The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Sam Nartey George, has laid out a focused, data-driven roadmap aimed at lowering the cost of mobile data in Ghana while safeguarding service quality and value for consumers.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. George acknowledged the financial strain that current data prices place on citizens, even though some regional comparisons suggest Ghana’s mobile data is relatively affordable.
“We’re aware that while data may seem affordable regionally, the reality is different when you compare it to what the average Ghanaian earns,” he said.
Currently, 1GB of mobile data costs around GHS17 ($1.37)—a price nearly equal to Ghana’s daily minimum wage of GHS19.97 ($1.61). Mr. George described this as an “unsustainable” situation that threatens inclusive access to digital services.
To tackle the issue, he revealed that government had constituted a 23-member inter-agency data pricing committee. The committee, after two weeks of deliberation, produced a comprehensive roadmap now steering government policy.
Unlike earlier initiatives that lost momentum due to poor execution, Mr. George said this new plan is structured in stages to ensure that affordability reforms do not degrade user experience.
“If you want me to move from network A because it’s now more expensive, is network B ready to deliver the same quality? That’s the question,” he said, stressing the need for simultaneous investments in network infrastructure across all providers.
The strategy, he noted, is anchored on three foundational principles: price, quality, and value. He said that any future pricing shifts must also deliver greater utility to users.
“Value means that if you previously got 100GB for a certain price, you should be able to get more for the same amount in the future,” Mr. George explained.
He assured the public that in the near future, Ghanaians would see data packages offering “more gigabytes for less,” as telecommunications companies are being encouraged to revise their plans to reflect this shift.
To support transparency and global alignment, a delegation from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is currently in Ghana conducting an independent assessment of the nation’s data pricing model.
Mr. George underscored that government actions would be rooted in research and verifiable data.
“We want to make sure our approach is grounded in facts and international standards so that any changes are both fair and sustainable,” he stated.
Ultimately, the Communications Ministry sees this initiative as key to closing the digital divide, aiming to make high-speed internet affordable and accessible for every Ghanaian—no matter their income level or location.
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