Despite launching 4G in Ghana 9 years ago current penetration rate is 15% — Ursula Owusu

Ghana's 4G penetration rate remains low at just 15% despite launching 4G services in the country 9years now, according to Communications Minister Ursula Owusu.

At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, May 30, the Minister expressed concern that the "majority of the population" are still using much slower 3G networks close to a decade after 4G was introduced.

"Despite launching 4G in Ghana 9 years ago, the current 4G penetration rate is 15%, with the majority of the population using 3G networks," Ms. Owusu said.

The Minister said the low uptake highlighted the need for a new approach to boost connectivity across Ghana.

Under the new Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC) initiative mobile operators will share infrastructure to deploy affordable high-speed 5G services nationwide over the next few years.

"Through NGIC, we hope to increase the 4G penetration rate to 80% and beyond nationwide, with a total deployment of 3,200 and 1,200 4G and 5G sites, respectively, rolled out in the next 3 years," Ms Owusu stated.

The infrastructure sharing model through NGIC aims to accelerate the rollout of next-generation technologies more widely.

If successful, the minister says it could help Ghana fulfil its goal of achieving universal broadband access and a fully digital economy by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament has alleged that the deal is opaque and contains several irregularities.

In a press statement on Monday, June 3, Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson said a preliminary study by the caucus revealed the deal was carried out in a non-transparent manner without any competitive bidding process.