Thursday, 8 October 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Thursday, 8 October 2026

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Ghanaian press · Organization

National Communications Authority

Also known as: NCA

Regulatory authority that awards spectrum licenses, manages SIM registration, and oversees telecommunications infrastructure in Ghana.

2026-04-272026-10-08

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

April 2026
27 AprJoy Online
… Elsewhere, the National Communications Authority (NCA) produced a resilient display to hold Union Ghana to a 0-0 draw, despite playing much of the game with 10 men. …
UGCFL26 WEEK 9: Wilmar snatch late winner as Ghana Airports earn first victory
27 AprBusiness & Financial Times
… The National Communications Authority plays a crucial role in shaping the regulatory environment for telecommunications services in Ghana. …
ICT Insight with Institute of ICT Professionals: Community Network Initiatives: A sustainable path to bridging the digital divide

Politics

Mahama directs creation of Local Government TV platform

The News

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to establish a dedicated Local Government TV platform to broadcast activities of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. The initiative will facilitate live broadcasts of General Assembly and Town Hall meetings in selected MMDAs, with the goal of increasing citizen participation and keeping residents informed about local governance decisions.

5 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 5 October

Mahama directs creation of Local Government TV platform
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to establish a dedicated Local Government TV platform to broadcast activities of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. The initiative will facilitate live broadcasts of General Assembly and Town Hall meetings in selected MMDAs, with the goal of increasing citizen participation and keeping residents informed about local governance decisions.
5 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 3 October

Double fibre cut disrupts Telecel services in Central Region
A double fibre cut along the Accra–Winneba and Winneba–Cape Coast routes caused by ongoing road contractor work has disrupted Telecel Ghana services, affecting an estimated 72,754 subscribers across 181 RAN sites in multiple communities across the Central Region. The Minister for Communications says Telecel engineers are on site working to restore services while engaging the road contractor to halt further excavation work.
3 October 2026 · Joy Online →
MTN to deploy 5G services after winning spectrum licenses
MTN Ghana has been awarded spectrum licenses in the 700 MHz and 3 GHz bands by the National Communications Authority, at a cost of US$202 million. The company plans to deploy 5G services to strengthen network capacity and enhance customer experience across Ghana.
3 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 2 October

GIBA urges constitutional entrenchment of media freedom protections
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association is calling for key protections for media freedom to be entrenched in Ghana's Constitution during the ongoing constitutional review, warning that relying on ordinary legislation could leave the sector vulnerable to changes by successive governments. GIBA said many of its recommendations to the Constitutional Review Committee were not reflected in the committee's final report, though it welcomed proposals concerning media independence and regulation.
2 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 30 September

Bunkpurugu MP calls for action on network disruptions in North
Dr Abednego Bandim, MP for Bunkpurugu and Chairman of Parliament's Information and Communications Committee, has urged telecommunications operators and the National Communications Authority to strengthen their response to network disruptions in Northern Ghana, citing impacts on healthcare, education, businesses, and emergency response. He cited an MTN outage from 11:00 to 18:00 on September 26 that affected multiple communities in the region, and noted that operators should provide timely information to consumers when disruptions occur.
30 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 26 September

NCA reports major voice, data outage across northern regions
The National Communications Authority announced significant disruption to voice and data services across the five northern regions and parts of Oti Region following multiple fibre cuts affecting three transmission routes. Technical teams from network operators and NITA are undertaking repairs, with restoration work ongoing.
26 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Triple fibre cuts disrupt telecom services in northern Ghana
Ghana's Communications Minister disclosed simultaneous cuts on three fibre routes serving the five Northern Regions and parts of Oti Region, affecting 694 2G/3G sites and 521 4G sites. Technical teams from MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana, and NITA have been deployed to restore services.
26 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 18 September

NCA awards Telecel three 5G spectrum lots in 2.3 GHz band
The National Communications Authority has awarded three spectrum lots in the 2.3 GHz band to Telecel Ghana following a competitive licensing process, supporting the company's planned rollout of 5G services and expansion of network capacity.
18 September 2026 · Daily Guide →

Thursday 17 September

NCA awards three 2.3 GHz spectrum lots to Telecel Ghana
The National Communications Authority has awarded three spectrum lots in the 2.3 GHz band to Telecel Ghana to support 5G rollout and expand mobile broadband capacity. Telecel secured all three lots it applied for in the competitive licensing process.
17 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 12 September

NCA awards 700MHz spectrum to MTN Ghana
The National Communications Authority has awarded two lots of 700 MHz spectrum to Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana) for a combined licence fee of US$109.9 million. The NCA is continuing its allocation process for 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands, with the 2.3 GHz band under-subscribed and the 3 GHz band over-subscribed.
12 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 10 September

NCA clears MTN, Telecel, Goal for Ghana 5G spectrum licensing
The National Communications Authority has cleared Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana), Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana), and Goal Telecommunications Ltd to advance to the next stage of Ghana's 5G spectrum licensing process, while disqualifying Infrava Ltd. The three successful applicants will proceed to Stage 3 to have their price offers opened and ranked for spectrum licences in the 700MHz, 2.3GHz and 3GHz bands.
10 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 9 September

NCA clears MTN, Telecel, Goal for Ghana's 5G spectrum licensing
Ghana's National Communications Authority has cleared Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana), Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana), and Goal Telecommunications Ltd to advance to the next stage of the country's 5G spectrum licensing process. A fourth applicant, Infrava Ltd, failed to meet the requirements for the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands.
9 September 2026 · The Chronicle →
MTN, Telecel, Goal Telecom advance in NCA spectrum auction
The National Communications Authority has cleared three of four applicants—Scancom Plc (MTN Ghana), Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Telecel Ghana), and Goal Telecommunications Ltd—to proceed to the next stage of its spectrum licence auction for 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, and 3 GHz bands. Infrava Ltd was disqualified from the process.
9 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 7 September

Ghana's SIM registration evolves toward biometric verification
Ghana has progressively tightened SIM card registration requirements over 16 years, beginning with a 2010 nationwide exercise under the National Communications Authority using various identity documents, shifting to Ghana Card registration in 2021, and now planning a real-time biometric verification system expected to begin before the end of 2026.
7 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Government trains 50 digital champions, officials in AI
Ghana's government plans to train 50 Digital Champions and senior public officials in artificial intelligence by December 2026 under its National AI Strategy 2025–2035. So far, 240 civil servants have completed AI literacy training, and the government has run an AI and Robotics Summer Bootcamp for 100 basic school pupils, 40 per cent of whom were girls.
7 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Government plans upgrade of rural 2G/3G networks to 4G
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George said the government is working with the National Communications Authority, the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, and mobile network operators to upgrade ageing 2G and 3G infrastructure in rural communities to 4G-capable networks to support digital services such as mobile money, digital agriculture, e-learning, and telemedicine.
7 September 2026 · Joy Online →
MTN commits US$1.1bn to Ghana network and 5G expansion
MTN Ghana has committed more than US$1.1 billion over three years to expand network coverage and support 5G rollout across the country, including the construction of 800 new cell sites. The investment follows regulatory reforms by the National Communications Authority, including removal of the wholesale 5G exclusivity framework that had constrained competition.
7 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 6 September

Rural calls and data to cost less by Q1 2027
Ghana's Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George announced that rural communities could enjoy cheaper calls and data by the end of the first quarter of 2027. The government is reviewing charging arrangements on rural telephony networks to allow subscribers to use existing voice and data bundles at rural sites, addressing what the Minister called an unfair situation where rural services cost more than urban ones.
6 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 5 September

Government to reduce rural telephony costs by Q1 2027
Ghana's Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George says the government is working with the National Communications Authority, Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications, and mobile network operators to make calls and data services cheaper on rural telephony networks by the end of the first quarter of 2027. The move aims to ensure subscribers can benefit from existing voice and data bundles when using rural telephony sites.
5 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Government to upgrade rural telephone networks to 4G capability
The Minister of Communications says the government will upgrade all Rural Telephony Project sites across the country to at least 4G capability to improve connectivity in underserved communities, as part of a broader review of the project to be presented to Cabinet.
5 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 3 September

PPL Net Ghana must clear audit arrears before spectrum allocation
Communications Minister Sam George has said that PPL Net Ghana Limited must submit outstanding audited accounts before the National Communications Authority can legally allocate it additional spectrum in three bands. The company's audited accounts are currently about a year in arrears.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Sam George swears in PPL Net Ghana board of directors
Communications Minister Sam George has inaugurated the new Board of Directors of PPL Net Ghana Limited, which operates the AT Ghana brand, chaired by Hilary Denise Arko-Dadzie. The Minister said spectrum allocation to the company remains conditional on meeting legal requirements, including submission of audited accounts.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 25 August

CSA urges journalists to verify cyber claims before publishing
The Cyber Security Authority's Senior Manager has cautioned journalists against publishing unverified cybercrime claims and unresolved computer system vulnerabilities, warning that premature disclosure could aid criminals and disrupt investigations. He urged media to consult security agencies before reporting sensitive cyber incidents, especially those with national security implications.
25 August 2026 · Joy Online →
CSA cautions journalists on reporting cyber vulnerabilities responsibly
The Cyber Security Authority's Senior Manager for Critical Information Infrastructure has cautioned journalists against publishing unverified claims about cyber criminals or prematurely disclosing unresolved computer system vulnerabilities, warning that premature disclosure could disrupt investigations and provide criminals with exploitable information. He urged media practitioners to consult security agencies before publishing sensitive information about cyber incidents.
25 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 21 August

Journalism must serve public interest, not attention-seeking
Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr told the Ghana Journalists Association that media must prioritise determining what the public needs to know over maximising attention through controversy and sensationalism. He stressed that accuracy and professional judgment should not be sacrificed for speed, and that journalism's central challenge in today's environment is verifying truth amid information overload.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 20 August

Journalists must uphold standards and rebuild trust, Kwesi Pratt says
At the Ghana Journalists Association's 77th Anniversary Symposium in Accra, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of Insight Newspaper, called on media practitioners to strengthen professional standards and public trust by verifying information, refusing to publish unverified allegations, and ensuring technology complements rather than replaces professional journalism judgment.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →
NCA chief calls on journalists to uphold standards amid digital shift
The NCA Director-General has urged journalists and media practitioners to maintain professional standards of accuracy, fairness, accountability and verification as the media industry becomes increasingly digital, emphasizing that public trust must remain central to journalism.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Journalists must uphold standards, build trust in digital era
At Ghana Journalists Association's 77th anniversary symposium, Kwesi Pratt Jnr urged media practitioners to strengthen public trust through accurate reporting, courageous investigative work, and refusing to publish unverified allegations, arguing that media credibility is built through professional practice rather than slogans.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 18 August

Telecel Ghana launches biodegradable SIM cards with less plastic
Telecel Ghana has introduced Eco SIM, a biodegradable card made with 90 percent less plastic than conventional SIMs while delivering the same voice, data, and MoMo services. The move addresses Ghana's plastic waste problem, where 1.1 million tonnes are generated annually, with only 5 percent collected for recycling.
18 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Monday 17 August

Godfred Dame criticises vacation hearing in NAFCO case
Former Attorney General Godfred Dame, representing NAFCO Chief Executive Officer Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, has criticised the court's decision to hear proceedings during the legal vacation, arguing there is no emergency or urgency to justify the action and that compelling parties to participate in a trial during vacation goes against judicial practice.
17 August 2026 · Joy Online →