MTN Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering strong community partnerships and accelerating digital transformation in northern Ghana through a regional stakeholder engagement held in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, on October 21, 2025. The forum brought together a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including traditional authorities, district and municipal officials, the media, business leaders, and MTN customers.
The meeting formed part of MTN’s nationwide stakeholder engagement series designed to strengthen collaboration, promote transparency, and ensure that the company’s services and development initiatives reflect the unique needs of local communities.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Joseph Dogbe, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Scancom PLC (operators of MTN Ghana), underscored the company’s long-standing commitment to bridging the digital divide and promoting inclusive growth through innovation and infrastructure expansion. He revealed that MTN has, over the past five years, invested more than GH¢1 billion in digital infrastructure projects across the country to enhance connectivity and improve service reliability.
“For 2025 alone, MTN has committed GH¢240 million towards expanding its fibre optic network, strengthening 4G coverage, and preparing the groundwork for the nationwide rollout of 5G technology,” Mr. Dogbe disclosed. He explained that these investments would not only boost internet speed and reliability but also open new opportunities for businesses, schools, health facilities, and entrepreneurs to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
He further highlighted MTN’s growing role in advancing innovation through its DigiFest Initiative, a month-long campaign showcasing digital solutions that empower individuals and enterprises. Among the key innovations unveiled were the MTN DigiFest Platform, created to promote digital literacy and entrepreneurship, and the MoMo Business App, designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) efficiently manage their financial transactions and improve operational efficiency.
One of the major highlights of the engagement was the introduction of Abena.ai, Ghana’s first multilingual AI voice assistant developed by MTN. Mr. Dogbe explained that the innovation supports major Ghanaian languages, including Twi, Ewe, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, and English, making it easier for customers from diverse linguistic backgrounds to interact with MTN’s digital platforms. This, he said, demonstrates MTN’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that no one is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey.
Beyond infrastructure and innovation, Mr. Dogbe emphasized MTN’s adherence to transparency, ethical governance, and corporate responsibility. He reaffirmed that the company upholds strong data privacy standards and gender inclusivity in leadership, aligning with international compliance norms while remaining sensitive to Ghana’s local context.
Madam Efua Falconer, Corporate Communications Manager at MTN Ghana, expressed appreciation to stakeholders in the Upper West Region for their continued loyalty and partnership over the past 15 years of MTN’s operations in the area. She noted that the stakeholder forums being organized across 12 regions are part of MTN’s ongoing efforts to maintain open dialogue and ensure that the company’s services remain relevant and responsive to local needs.
“This engagement in Wa is a demonstration of our belief that development is most impactful when driven through partnership. We are here to listen, learn, and act together with the community to advance Ghana’s digital growth,” Madam Falconer stated.
In his remarks, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Issah Nurah Danwanaa, lauded MTN Ghana for its significant contributions to the socio-economic development of the region, particularly in improving communication services and supporting community initiatives. He, however, called on the company to address congestion challenges at its Wa customer service centre and consider establishing additional satellite service points to make customer access more efficient.
Representatives of the local media, especially community radio stations, also commended MTN for maintaining an open-door relationship with journalists. They urged the company to further collaborate with local media by supporting programmes that promote digital literacy and producing information content in indigenous languages to enhance community engagement.
The interactive session ended with a renewed sense of collaboration among participants. Stakeholders expressed satisfaction with MTN’s openness to dialogue and its proactive steps in advancing digital inclusion in the Upper West Region.
MTN Ghana’s stakeholder engagement forums, which have already taken place in several regions including Bono, Ashanti, and Northern, form part of the company’s broader vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world for Ghanaians. Through continuous dialogue, strategic investments, and innovation, MTN continues to position itself as a trusted partner in national development — one that connects people, communities, and opportunities across every part of the country.
