Dr. Abednego A. Lamangin Bandim, Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu and Chairman of Parliament's Information and Communication Committee, has expressed concern over recurring hours-long network disruptions in Northern Ghana. He personally experienced a seven-hour MTN network outage on September 26, 2026, while traveling from Salaga to Tamale. The outage occurred from around 11:00 hours to 18:00 hours, leaving him and other travelers without communication.
According to Dr. Bandim, similar disruptions were reported in other communities in the Northern Sector, including parts of Damongo and Bunkpurugu, on the same day. He acknowledged that telecom operators can encounter genuine technical problems, such as fibre cuts and infrastructure faults, but stressed that this does not justify leaving customers without communication. Dr. Bandim suggested that operators could use alternative platforms to update affected communities during outages.
Dr. Bandim emphasized that prolonged and poorly communicated disruptions have serious implications for healthcare delivery, education, business transactions, emergency response, and public safety in affected communities. He noted that Northern Ghana's communities rely heavily on mobile networks for everyday functions, including mobile money transactions, contacting ambulance services, and communicating with relatives during emergencies.
The seven-hour blackout on the Salaga-Tamale road corridor without notice to travelers or residents meant people attempting to reach health facilities, conduct business, or respond to emergencies during that window had no telecom access. Dr. Bandim called on MTN Ghana and other operators to improve their communication protocols to promptly inform consumers during major disruptions.
Dr. Bandim also appealed to the National Communications Authority (NCA), the regulator of Ghana's telecommunications sector, to pay closer attention to the frequency and duration of network outages in Northern Ghana. He urged the NCA to ensure operators meet their obligations to provide reliable services. The MP intends to continue monitoring the situation and engaging stakeholders to establish the underlying causes of recurring disruptions.
Dr. Bandim stressed that reliable telecommunication service is no longer optional but a basic necessity woven into healthcare, education, trade, emergency response, and daily life for residents of Northern Ghana. He plans to engage relevant stakeholders to prevent future outages and ensure that operators take measures to address the issue.
The issue has sparked concerns about the reliability of telecom services in Northern Ghana, with Dr. Bandim's comments highlighting the need for improved communication and service standards. No specific timeline for his engagement with stakeholders has been reported, nor has there been a response from MTN Ghana or the NCA.
Key points
- Dr. Abednego Bandim raises concerns over recurring MTN network outages in Northern Ghana.
- The outages pose risks to lives, livelihoods, and public safety in affected communities.
- Dr. Bandim calls for improved communication protocols from telecom operators and closer attention from the National Communications Authority.
