{
  "id": 6248755,
  "title": "Galamsey causes 1 in 4 fibre cuts in Ghana – Sam George",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/galamsey-causes-1-in-4-fibre-cuts-in-ghana-sam-george",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T05:46:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/galamsey-causes-1-in-4-fibre-cuts-in-ghana-sam-george/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana's Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister, Samuel Nartey George, revealed that illegal mining, also known as galamsey, causes approximately one in every four fibre-optic cable cuts in the country. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on September 7, Mr George highlighted the increasing threat galamsey poses to the reliability of Ghana's telecommunications network, particularly in regions with limited alternative routes. At the event, he identified galamsey, road construction, and private developer activities as the primary causes of fibre damage. The illegal mining activity accounts for 25 percent of all fibre cuts, according to Mr George. He noted that while road contractors usually report incidents where their operations damage fibre infrastructure, galamsey operators often fail to notify telecommunications companies or authorities about the cable cuts after excavations. This lack of reporting makes it challenging for network operators to swiftly identify and repair affected sections of the network. Mr George emphasized that fibre-optic networks form the backbone of Ghana's telecommunications infrastructure, carrying significant amounts of voice and data traffic. He cautioned that damage to the network could interrupt internet and other communication services, particularly in areas not connected by alternative fibre routes. Furthermore, he stressed that repeated fibre cuts impose considerable financial and operational costs on telecommunications companies, which must deploy personnel and specialized equipment to locate damaged cables, conduct repairs, and restore services. The Minister warned that the ongoing destruction of telecommunications infrastructure through illegal mining could weaken the reliability of digital services and exacerbate network disruptions throughout the country.",
  "summary": "Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is responsible for about one in every four fibre-optic cable cuts recorded across Ghana, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George has disclosed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "GBC Ghana",
        "title": "Fibre cuts cost Ghana more than US$20m in repairs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/fibre-cuts-cost-ghana-more-than-us-20m-in-repairs",
        "published": "2026-09-07T17:59:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Ghana spends over US$20m repairing fibre cuts – Sam George",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/ghana-spends-over-us-20m-repairing-fibre-cuts-sam-george",
        "published": "2026-09-08T05:31:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}