National smartphone penetration reached 71.8% as of June 2026 – Communications Minister

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George has disclosed that national smartphone penetration in Ghana reached 71.8% as of June 2026, representing a significant increase from 27.5% a decade ago.

The Minister noted that the sharp rise has increased demand for reliable and faster telecommunications services across the country.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, September 7, he said the development reflects the increasing dependence of Ghanaians on digital connectivity for work, business and other aspects of daily life.

“Our national smartphone penetration has climbed to 71.8% as of June 2026, up from just 27.5% a decade ago, proof that more Ghanaians are ever relying on the network for work, business, and daily life,” Sam George said.

The Minister said the growth in smartphone usage has also exposed gaps in the country's telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in rural communities.

According to him, despite the fact that smartphone ownership has increased significantly, parts of the country continue to rely on legacy 2G and 3G networks that cannot adequately support modern digital services.

He said such services include mobile money transactions, digital agricultural extension, e-learning platforms, telemedicine and other data-intensive applications.

The minister said the government is therefore working with mobile network operators to upgrade ageing 2G and 3G infrastructure in rural districts to 4G and 5G-capable networks.

He said operators had also been directed to ensure that new rural sites are 4G-ready from the outset to prevent communities from falling behind in the country’s digital transformation.