Galamsey accounts for 25% of fibre cuts - Sam George

Samuel Nartey George, Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, has revealed that road construction projects under the government's Big Push programme are responsible for around half of all fiber cuts reported monthly. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, Mr George explained that most of these damages stem from uncoordinated excavation and contractors failing to coordinate with approved drawings and telecommunications operators prior to construction starts.

He projected that Ghana would see 8,578 fiber cuts in 2026, with 4,289 already reported in the first half of the year. Each fiber cut costs an average of US$2,045 to repair, leading to over US$20 million spent on repairs in 2025 alone. The Minister highlighted that uncoordinated excavation due to road construction, particularly the Big Push road program, is the leading cause of these cuts, accounting for roughly half of them each month.

To address this issue, the government is implementing a joint Cabinet Memorandum between his Ministry and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to introduce the Dig Once Policy. This policy aims to ensure that telecommunications infrastructure is considered during road construction planning, thereby minimizing fiber damage risks and reducing broadband deployment costs.

Additionally, the National Communications Authority (NCA) is finalizing a coordination framework requiring road agencies and contractors to engage telecommunications operators before initiating excavation works. The Ministry plans to enforce cost-recovery penalties for third parties responsible for damaging telecommunications infrastructure.