MTN Ghana Reports Regional Internet Disruptions Following Undersea Cable Damage Off Côte d'Ivoire

National Communications Authority reports fiber cuts in northern Ghana

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has reported significant disruptions to voice and data services across northern Ghana following multiple fiber optic cable cuts on September 26, 2026. While technical teams successfully restored services within the same day, the incident has reignited urgent discussions regarding the vulnerability of the nation's telecommunications infrastructure and the necessity for more robust backup systems. The disruption highlights a persistent challenge for the telecommunications sector in Ghana. In 2023 alone, the country recorded 751 fiber cuts, frequently caused by road construction, utility excavations, and other physical developments. The NCA emphasized that while redundancy is often built into networks, many existing alternative routes are not structurally independent. This means that a single physical event, such as a major trenching project, can damage both primary and secondary cables if they share the same geographic corridor. To address these vulnerabilities, the NCA is advocating for a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure routes specifically within northern Ghana. This initiative aims to identify shared risks and ensure that essential services remain resilient during localized failures. The authority is calling for better coordination between local government authorities and utility providers to ensure that those performing earthworks are fully aware of buried telecommunications infrastructure. Looking forward, the NCA emphasizes that maintaining reliable communication is critical to Ghana’s growing digital economy. The agency is encouraging a systematic plan that prioritizes infrastructure improvements based on rigorous cost-benefit analyses. By ensuring that backup routes are truly independent and geographically separated, the regulator hopes to minimize the impact of future cuts and provide the stability required for modern digital services.