MTN Ghana CEO bets big on digital growth, gaming and $1 billion network investment

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett has outlined an aggressive strategy to drive digital growth, expand network infrastructure and improve service quality, as the company positions itself for long-term expansion under its Ambition 2030 agenda.

Speaking during a fireside chat with broadcaster Bernard Avle at the MTN Ghana Media and Stakeholders Forum held in Accra on the theme “MTN Ghana @30: Connecting Ghana, Shaping the Digital Future”, the CEO said digital services are emerging as a key revenue driver, with their contribution rising from about 1.3 percent to 2 percent in recent years. 

He identified mobile gaming as one of the most promising growth areas, particularly among Africa’s youth. Unlike traditional console gaming, which remained out of reach for many due to cost barriers, the shift to mobile platforms is driving rapid adoption. He clarified that the focus is on online and multiplayer gaming, not betting, describing it as “the next big curve” in digital services.

According to him, MTN Ghana aims to support the broader gaming ecosystem by enabling local developers to launch and scale their products, especially those creating culturally relevant content within Ghana. He noted that the growth of such services will depend heavily on continued investment in connectivity and data infrastructure.

The CEO also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to invest $1 billion in Ghana’s network over the next three years, accelerating a previous five-year investment timeline. He described the move as a strong vote of confidence in Ghana’s economic resilience despite global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions and fluctuating macroeconomic conditions.

He explained that the investment will be directed toward strengthening IT systems, enhancing cybersecurity, expanding green energy initiatives such as solar, and significantly upgrading network capacity to meet rising data demand. He revealed that MTN customers are already consuming close to 15 gigabytes of data per user per month on average, driven largely by video streaming and social media usage.

The company also plans to roll out more than 800 new cell sites in 2026, a sharp increase compared to previous years. This expansion is expected to improve both coverage and capacity, particularly in rapidly growing urban and peri-urban areas.

Addressing concerns about service quality and pricing, the CEO acknowledged rising consumer expectations and regulatory pressure to improve performance standards. He emphasized that network quality remains a top priority, noting that customers are willing to pay for services if reliability and performance meet expectations.

He further highlighted challenges such as limited spectrum availability and frequent fibre cuts, which can disrupt network performance and affect large numbers of users simultaneously. He said the company is working to mitigate these risks while continuing to invest in infrastructure resilience.

The CEO concluded that MTN Ghana’s strategy is focused on building for the future rather than reacting to short-term economic conditions, stressing that sustained investment is critical to supporting the country’s growing digital economy.