The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that Ghana has experienced simultaneous cuts on three different fibre routes supplying capacity to the five Northern Regions and parts of the Oti Region. According to the Minister, multiple cuts occurred on different sections of the fibre routes at various times. The incidents have resulted in significant service disruption, with many sites currently experiencing service denial or significant degradation.
The first cut occurred on the Kintampo-Buipe fibre route, on the MTN section, at 0419GMT. Further cuts were recorded on the Wakawaka-Bamboi route, on the Telecel section, at 1136GMT, while the Hohoe-Jasikan route, on the NITA section, was also affected at 1125GMT. These cuts have impacted 694 2G and 3G sites and 521 4G sites, causing widespread disruptions to telecom services in the affected regions.
Mr George said teams from MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana, and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) have been dispatched to identify the causes of the cuts and restore services. The Minister acknowledged the continued impact of fibre cuts on service delivery and expressed confidence that the technical teams, working under the supervision of the National Communications Authority (NCA), will begin restoring services within a few hours.
The Minister apologized to customers and residents in the affected regions for the inconvenience caused by the disruptions. He emphasized the importance of restoring services as quickly as possible to minimize the impact on the community. The disruptions have caused significant inconvenience to residents and businesses in the affected regions, who rely heavily on telecom services for communication and other essential services.
Fibre cuts have become a recurring issue in Ghana, with the Minister previously stating that galamsey activities are a major cause of the problem. According to Mr George, Ghana spends over $20 million annually on repairing fibre cuts. The government has been working to address the issue, including through the implementation of measures to prevent fibre cuts and improve the resilience of the country's telecom infrastructure.
The incidents have highlighted the need for the government to take proactive measures to prevent fibre cuts and ensure the stability of telecom services. The Minister's assurance that services will be restored within a few hours will come as a relief to residents and businesses in the affected regions. The government has been urged to take concrete steps to address the issue and prevent future disruptions.
The impact of the fibre cuts on the region's economy and social activities cannot be overstated. The disruptions have caused significant inconvenience to residents and businesses, who rely heavily on telecom services for communication and other essential services. The government and telecom companies are working to restore services and minimize the impact of the disruptions on the community.
Key points
- The incidents resulted in significant service disruption, with 694 2G and 3G sites and 521 4G sites currently experiencing service denial or significant degradation.
- Teams from MTN Ghana, Telecel Ghana, and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) have been dispatched to identify the causes of the cuts and restore services.
- The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has apologized to customers and residents in the affected regions for the inconvenience caused by the disruptions.
