The Minister of Communications, Sam Nartey George, has unveiled the government’s strategic plan to lower mobile data prices, acknowledging past challenges in policy implementation.
Speaking in an interview, he stressed that while Ghana’s data costs may appear affordable relative to other African nations, the reality is different for many Ghanaians, given their income levels.
Currently, the average price of 1GB of mobile data is approximately GHS17 ($1.37), a figure nearly equivalent to Ghana’s daily minimum wage of GHS19.97 ($1.61). This disparity makes sustained internet access difficult for a significant portion of the population.
Minister George assured Ghanaians that mobile data prices will be revised in the coming months, following a structured approach set by the 23-member Inter-Agency Data Pricing Committee.
He emphasized that the Ministry’s decisions would be guided by data and policy rather than public sentiment.
According to him, after 14 days of deliberation, the committee devised a roadmap, which is now being implemented to ensure fair pricing while maintaining service quality.
The Minister highlighted the importance of policy execution, noting that alternative networks must be strengthened before price adjustments affect dominant providers.
“If you want me to move from network A, because you’ve made them more expensive, is network B going to give me the quality of service I want?” he questioned, stressing the need for concurrent investment by all service providers to ensure consistent network reliability.
The Ministry’s strategy focuses on three key pillars which are price, quality, and value to guide reductions in mobile data costs.
He explained, “So, I mean, when we talk value, if today you were getting, say, 100 gig for a certain price, value would mean that you could get more than 100 gig at the same price.”
Minister George reassured citizens that, in the near future, telecommunication companies will offer more data for less money, making internet accessibility more affordable across the country.
To strengthen the Ministry’s approach, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has deployed a team to Ghana for an independent assessment of mobile data pricing.
This review, guided by hard-core data and evidence, will shape future pricing policies, ensuring affordability aligns with Ghana’s economic realities.
As discussions progress, Ghanaians remain hopeful that tangible reductions in data costs will soon become a reality
