MTN Ghana plans to construct 80 new network sites across the five regions of northern Ghana this year as part of a broader $1.1 billion investment programme aimed at expanding coverage and improving service quality nationwide.

The company has earmarked $380 million for network expansion in 2026 alone, according to MTN Ghana’s Senior Manager in charge of Base Station Subsystems, Emmanuel Kwei Afutu.

Speaking as MTN marks 30 years of operations in Ghana, Mr. Afutu said the new sites will be spread across all five northern regions.

The Northern Region will receive 38 new sites, while 17 will be constructed in the Savannah Region. The Upper East Region will get 14 sites, with 11 planned for the North East Region. An additional site is also expected to be constructed in the Upper West Region, bringing the total number of new sites planned for the north to 80.

Across the country, MTN Ghana is targeting 500 new network sites in 2026, making it one of the company’s largest infrastructure expansion programmes in recent years.

Mr. Afutu said the investment is not only about increasing the number of network sites, but also about improving access to digital opportunities.

The new infrastructure is expected to make it easier for farmers to connect with markets, students to access online learning, businesses to process digital payments and families to stay connected.

In communities facing security challenges, improved network coverage is also expected to strengthen communication between residents and security services.

The expansion comes at a time when demand for digital and financial services continues to grow.

In the first half of 2026, MTN Ghana recorded a 44.4% year-on-year increase in mobile money transaction value, while transaction volumes grew by 23.3%.

Mr. Afutu said the company’s continued investment is being supported by strong financial performance.

MTN Ghana’s revenue increased by 32.3% to GH¢15 billion in the first six months of 2026, while profit after tax rose 46.8% to GH¢5.1 billion.

The company also paid GH¢5.6 billion in direct and indirect taxes during the period.

Beyond network infrastructure, MTN Ghana is also investing in skills development and education through the MTN Ghana Foundation.

Mr. Afutu said initiatives include the MTN Skills Academy, which aims to train more than 100,000 young people in digital and financial skills, as well as the Bright Scholarship programme, which has supported more than 1,200 students.

The company has also introduced water, sanitation and hygiene projects in schools across northern Ghana.

Despite the progress, Mr. Afutu said affordability and digital literacy remain key challenges and called for continued collaboration between MTN Ghana, the government, regulators and local communities.

“As Ghana grows, we will grow with Ghana; our ambition has moved from simply connecting people to connecting people to opportunities,” he said.