MTN to build 80 new sites across the five regions of the north as part of a $1.1bn investment

MTN Ghana is set to build 80 new network sites across the five northern regions of the country this year as part of a $1.1 billion investment plan. This expansion aims to enhance coverage and improve service quality nationwide. The company, which is celebrating 30 years in Ghana, announced the rollout under the leadership of Senior Manager in charge of Base Station Subsystems Mr. Emmanuel Kwei Afutu.

A significant portion of the investment, $380 million, will be allocated to network expansion in 2026 alone. The new sites will be distributed across all five northern regions, including 38 in the Northern Region, 17 in the Savannah Region, 14 in the Upper East Region, 11 in the North East Region, and an additional site planned for the Upper West Region, bringing the total for the north to 80.

According to Mr. Afutu, the new sites will not only increase the number of connections but also enable access to various services. He highlighted that farmers will be able to reach markets, students will have access to online learning, businesses will be able to process digital payments, and families will stay connected. Furthermore, improved connectivity will assist communities and security services in areas with security challenges.

The expansion is being driven by the increasing demand for digital services, with the company expecting to deploy 500 new sites nationwide in 2026, which Mr. Afutu described as one of the company's largest infrastructure deployments in recent years.

The investment is being supported by MTN Ghana's strong financial performance. In the first half of 2026, the company's revenue increased by 32.3% to 15 billion cedis, while profit after tax rose by 46.8% to 5.1 billion cedis. MTN Ghana's revenue also grew by 44.4% year-on-year in terms of mobile money transaction value, with transaction volumes up by 23.3%.

Mr. Afutu emphasized that the investment is not only infrastructure-focused but also emphasizes people development. The company is investing in the MTN Ghana Foundation, which includes initiatives such as the MTN Skills Academy, aiming to train over 100,000 young people in digital and financial skills, and the Bright Scholarship, which has supported more than 1,200 students. Additionally, MTN has launched water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in schools across the north.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain, particularly in terms of affordability and digital literacy. Mr. Afutu called for continued collaboration with government, regulators, and communities to address these issues. He concluded by stating that as Ghana grows, MTN will grow with the nation, moving the focus from simply connecting people to connecting them to opportunities.