MTN Ghana has suffered a major technical hitch that has disrupted data bundle purchases across its network, just as a long-awaited policy to boost data value at no extra cost officially took effect on Monday, July 1, 2025.
The telecom giant confirmed the disruption in a public statement to customers, citing challenges tied to the implementation of its new data bonus offer.
“Whilst implementing the data offer, which will provide 15% additional volume of data from today July 1, 2025, MTN experienced a major technical issue which has affected data bundle purchases, including the data volume offer,” MTN said. “As a result, customers are temporarily unable to purchase data bundles.”
MTN apologised for the inconvenience and assured customers that its technical teams are working swiftly to restore full service. “We recognise the importance of staying connected and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause,” it added. “Further updates will be provided.”
The timing of the breakdown has frustrated thousands of users, as it coincides with a landmark reform in Ghana’s telecom sector. The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations had ordered all three major operators—MTN Ghana, AT Ghana, and Telecel Ghana—to increase data volumes under existing bundles at no additional cost.
MTN, which has been designated a Significant Market Power (SMP), was specifically directed to restore its GH¢399 bundle to 214 gigabytes of data, a return to earlier volumes before recent price adjustments. All other MTN data packages were to be upgraded with a 15 per cent boost starting July 1.
AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana, meanwhile, implemented a 10 per cent increase across their data bundles. AT Ghana now offers 236 GB for GH¢400, up from 195 GB, while Telecel users receive 250 GB for the same price—a massive leap from the previous 90 GB offering.
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George, who championed the new policy during a June 10 press briefing, explained that the reforms followed months of stakeholder engagement to ensure consumers receive better value for money. “The increases are going to come at considerable costs to the network operators. However, I am glad that our engagements and consultations are bearing fruit for the Ghanaian people,” he said.
Mr. George has directed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to closely monitor implementation across all networks. The NCA is also set to launch quarterly billing integrity audits from Q3 2025 to verify bundle accuracy and guard against under-crediting.
Beyond this upgrade, the government is in talks with the Ministries of Finance and Energy to explore ways to reduce sector taxes and utility tariffs, which are widely blamed for Ghana’s high cost of mobile data.
As MTN works to resolve the current technical issue, users of AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana appear to be enjoying uninterrupted access to the new data packages. Sector observers believe the broader reforms signal a shift toward fairer and more competitive telecom services for consumers.
