MTN Ghana’s Chief Home Officer, Richard Acheampong, says home connectivity has become central to the company’s strategy as the demand for digital services continues to grow, stressing that reliable internet infrastructure will be critical to supporting Ghana’s digital future.
According to him, the rapid digitalisation of Ghana’s economy has fundamentally changed how people live, work, learn and conduct business, making dependable home internet connectivity an indispensable pillar of national development. He said as more services migrate online, investing in resilient digital infrastructure will be essential to unlocking economic growth, improving productivity and ensuring that more Ghanaians can participate in the digital economy.
Speaking at MTN Ghana’s Bright Conversations event, Mr. Acheampong said the telecommunications company is repositioning itself beyond being a traditional connectivity provider to becoming a key enabler of Ghana’s digital transformation.
He explained that MTN Ghana’s Mission 2030 strategy is anchored on three strategic pillars connectivity, fintech and infrastructure with home connectivity serving as one of the company’s major growth areas as demand for high-speed internet continues to surge.
According to him, although internet connectivity has always been important, changing lifestyles, technological innovation and the rapid expansion of digital services have significantly increased the need for reliable broadband in homes.
“COVID taught us that we could do a lot of things from home. Before then, we believed we had to go to school to receive education, go to the office to work and physically attend church. But COVID showed us that many of these activities could happen from home,” he said.
Mr. Acheampong noted that while the pandemic did not create digital services, it accelerated digital adoption by changing people’s perception of technology and how it could be used in everyday life.
He explained that platforms for virtual meetings, online education, digital banking, streaming services and e-commerce became mainstream during the period, creating sustained demand for reliable, high-capacity internet connectivity.
According to him, today’s households require internet services capable of supporting multiple users and connected devices simultaneously, whether for remote work, online learning, digital payments, business operations, entertainment or smart home applications.
Home Becoming the Centre of Digital Life
Mr. Acheampong said the role of the home has evolved significantly, transforming from simply a place of residence into the centre of education, work, entrepreneurship, entertainment and digital innovation.
“The home is now the centre of schooling, education, entertainment, work and business. For that to thrive, we have to provide the right digital infrastructure that will position Ghana to fully participate in the digital economy,” he stated.
He said MTN Ghana is responding to this shift by investing in advanced fibre infrastructure designed to deliver seamless, stable and high-quality internet experiences for households across the country.
Mr. Acheampong stressed that MTN’s fibre expansion goes beyond deploying broadband services, describing it as a long-term investment in Ghana’s digital future.
“We don’t want to see ourselves as just deploying fibre. This journey transcends the technology itself. It is about building the infrastructure that will enable Ghanaians to fully participate in the digital economy,” he said.
Media Key to Driving Digital Awareness
Mr. Acheampong urged the media to partner MTN in educating the public on the importance of home internet connectivity, saying misconceptions surrounding fibre services continue to slow adoption.
He noted that many consumers still perceive fibre internet as expensive or believe it is only suitable for affluent households, despite its growing affordability and relevance to everyday life.
Describing journalists as strategic partners in Ghana’s digital transformation journey, he appealed to them to help bridge the information gap by promoting greater public understanding of the benefits of reliable home broadband.
“Our ask is that you become our partners, advocates and ambassadors in helping Ghanaians understand the real value of home internet connectivity,” he said.
He believes stronger public awareness will encourage wider adoption of fibre services, enabling more households to benefit from digital education, entrepreneurship, innovation and access to online opportunities.
US$1 Billion Investment to Power Ghana’s Digital Future
Touching on MTN Ghana’s planned US$1 billion investment in digital infrastructure over the next five years, Mr. Acheampong described the commitment as one of the company’s biggest investments in Ghana’s telecommunications sector.
He said the investment will strengthen fibre networks, expand network coverage, modernise technology platforms, improve service quality and build the resilient infrastructure needed to support Ghana’s growing digital economy. “The commitment is beyond the money. It is a commitment to Ghana’s digital future,” he emphasised.
According to him, while customers interact only with the internet service they receive, significant investments are made behind the scenes in fibre optic cables, transmission systems, network equipment and digital technologies to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.
“The value that comes back to the customer is the ability to live their lives uninterrupted with very reliable internet connectivity,” he stated.
Reliability More Important Than Speed
Mr. Acheampong stressed that although internet speed remains an important consideration for customers, reliability is ultimately what determines service quality.
“Customers want internet that works. For that internet to work, there are a lot of things behind it,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with water supply systems, he explained that consumers expect water to flow whenever they open a tap without necessarily thinking about the infrastructure behind it. Likewise, internet users expect uninterrupted connectivity without seeing the extensive network investments that make the service possible.
He said MTN continues to invest heavily in strengthening these underlying systems to support virtual meetings, online learning, cloud services, video streaming, digital businesses and other data-intensive activities.
Expanding Digital Inclusion Through Fibre
Mr. Acheampong also rejected the notion that fibre internet is only for wealthy households, insisting that access to reliable connectivity has become a powerful tool for expanding educational opportunities, supporting businesses and reducing the country’s digital divide.
He cited the example of a family in Madina where children use MTN Fibre for academic research while other family members rely on the same connection for work and entertainment.
“We are building a bridge where a child from that home can have the same opportunity as a child from any privileged background by using the internet to educate and empower themselves,” he said.
Enhancing Customer Experience
Mr. Acheampong said MTN Ghana is also improving the customer experience by simplifying fibre subscription, payment and installation processes through its digital platforms.
Customers can check fibre availability, submit applications, make payments and schedule installation appointments online, with the company targeting installations within 72 hours after payment, while many customers are connected within 24 hours.
He added that MTN has expanded its customer support services by introducing self-help resources, including instructional videos, while encouraging customers to properly position and maintain their routers to optimise internet performance.
Preparing Ghana for the Next Digital Era
Looking ahead, Mr. Acheampong said the future of home connectivity extends far beyond internet access, with connected homes expected to integrate smart technologies, home security systems, cloud services, artificial intelligence and advanced digital entertainment solutions.
He reaffirmed MTN Ghana’s commitment to investing in the infrastructure required to support these innovations, stressing that the country’s ability to compete in the global digital economy will largely depend on the strength of the digital foundation being built today.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
