Minister Sam George Reports Major Telecel Outage Affecting Over 72,000 Subscribers in Central Region

Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has announced a significant service disruption affecting Telecel Ghana subscribers in the Central Region. A double fibre cut, occurring along the critical Accra-Winneba and Winneba-Cape Coast routes, has left approximately 72,754 users without stable connectivity. The disruption was triggered by excavation activities carried out by a road contractor working in the area, highlighting the ongoing challenges of protecting underground telecommunications infrastructure during public works.

The technical impact of the damage is substantial, with the Minister reporting that 181 Radio Access Network (RAN) sites have been compromised. The outage has primarily hit residents and businesses in Winneba and Agona Swedru, as well as several other communities situated along the coastal and transit corridors. For many in these areas, the loss of service has interrupted daily communications and digital commerce, underscoring the vital role of fibre-optic networks in the region's economic and social life.

In response to the crisis, Telecel Ghana engineers have been deployed to the affected sites to begin intensive repair and restoration work. Minister George confirmed that the telecommunications provider is also engaging directly with the road contractor to ensure better coordination and prevent further accidental damage to the fibre lines. The National Communications Authority (NCA) is currently overseeing the restoration process to ensure that services are brought back online as swiftly as possible.

While Telecel has issued an apology to its affected customers for the inconvenience, the incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of national digital infrastructure. The government, through the Ministry of Communications, continues to monitor the situation closely. Efforts are being made to strengthen protocols between construction firms and utility providers to mitigate such occurrences in the future, ensuring that the country's digital transformation goals remain on track under the administration of President John Mahama.