Dr. Abednego Lamangin Bandim, Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Information and Communications, has expressed concern over frequent telecommunications network disruptions in parts of northern Ghana. He has called on MTN Ghana and the National Communications Authority to take urgent action to address the issue. The disruptions have been causing inconvenience and uncertainty among communities, affecting essential services and daily activities.
Dr. Bandim recounted his personal experience of a major MTN network disruption on September 26, while traveling from Salaga to Tamale. The network went off at approximately 11 a.m. and was not restored until around 6 p.m., leaving him without service for about seven hours. He also received reports of similar disruptions in several other communities in the northern sector, including parts of Damongo and Bunkpurugu.
The Chairman acknowledged that telecommunications operators may experience unforeseen technical challenges, including fibre cuts and infrastructure faults. However, he emphasized that such difficulties should not prevent them from keeping consumers informed about the causes of outages, the areas affected, the expected duration, and the measures being taken to restore services.
Dr. Bandim noted that prolonged telecommunications outages have serious implications for healthcare, education, businesses, transportation, financial transactions, and emergency response. Hospitals could experience communication difficulties among healthcare professionals, while patients and their relatives might be unable to contact one another or reach health facilities when necessary.
The Chairman also expressed concern about the impact on students and researchers who depend on internet connectivity to access educational materials, conduct research, and communicate with their institutions. He stressed that consumers must be placed at the centre of responses to network disruptions, insisting that telecommunications operators have a responsibility to communicate directly with affected communities.
Dr. Bandim urged MTN Ghana to strengthen its communication protocols and promptly inform customers whenever major outages occur. He also called on the National Communications Authority to pay particular attention to the frequency and duration of disruptions in northern Ghana and ensure that service providers fulfil their obligations to consumers.
The Chairman suggested that where outages make SMS communication impossible, operators should use alternative platforms, including radio, television, and social media, to provide timely information to affected consumers. This, he believes, will help mitigate the effects of the disruptions and ensure that consumers are kept informed.
Key points
- Dr. Abednego Lamangin Bandim calls for urgent action from MTN Ghana and the National Communications Authority to address frequent telecommunications network disruptions in northern Ghana.
- The disruptions have serious implications for healthcare, education, businesses, transportation, financial transactions, and emergency response.
- Dr. Bandim urges MTN Ghana to strengthen its communication protocols and promptly inform customers whenever major outages occur.
