MTN Ghana and CSOs Unite for “Connectivity Justice”

MTN Ghana and CSOs Unite for “Connectivity Justice”

In what is being described as a decisive step toward “connectivity justice,” MTN Ghana opened its doors to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) at a high-level stakeholder forum held at its Head Office in Accra.

This wasn’t business as usual. The telecom giant long seen as the backbone of Ghana’s digital economy invited CSOs not just to listen, but to challenge, shape, and co-create the next phase of Ghana’s digital future.

Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer (CCSSO), captured the new spirit of engagement with a bold declaration:

“We are no longer just a network provider. We are at the center of every sector’s digital transformation. It is therefore crucial that our growth is inclusive, responsible, and shaped by voices beyond our industry.”

Her words landed against the backdrop of MTN’s green push—over 50% of operations now powered by renewable energy, plus internal reforms like eliminating plastic bottles across all offices.

On the technical front, Reuben Opata, Chief Technical Officer, peeled back the curtain on the sheer weight of MTN’s investments: $1 billion into Ghana’s network infrastructure. But even with that scale, challenges persist.

One of the biggest? Fiber cuts, which have already drained $22 million in repair costs this year alone.

“Reliable connectivity doesn’t happen by accident it’s the result of deliberate and sustained investment. But we need collaboration to protect these investments and ensure service continuity,” Opata stressed.

While MTN laid out its achievements, CSOs came ready with demands. Participants flagged mobile money fraud, affordability, digital access for persons with disabilities, and inclusive customer care as urgent issues that can’t wait.

Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Senior Manager for Corporate Communications, welcomed the pushback, stressing that ongoing dialogue is the only way to design digital solutions that truly work at the grassroots.

With senior leaders like Samuel Bartels, Senior Manager for Regulatory and Government Affairs, also present, the event marked more than a consultation it was a call to action.

MTN signaled that its corporate responsibility is no longer about “giving back” but about sharing power: bringing civil society into the center of decision-making on Ghana’s digital journey.

As the forum closed, one message was clear: connectivity justice is not optional it’s the future. And MTN wants CSOs to help build it.