The Minister for Communications, Sam Nartey George, addressed a press conference in Accra on September 5 to inform the general public about plans for Telecel and AT.
Below is the full speech delivered by the Minister.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the media.
Thank you for joining us today as we address two important matters currently engaging the attention of my Ministry (MOCDTI) and the National Communications Authority, NCA.
These two key issues go to the heart of consumer protection, fairness, and the sustainability of our digital and communications ecosystem. Today’s briefing will provide clarity on the interventions taken, the decisions reached, and the way forward.
The first concerns the long-standing dispute between creditors of AT Ghana Limited, which has now escalated in the case of the tower company, ATC Ghana, into
disconnection of power to telcom sites resulting in loss of service with potential implications for millions of subscribers.
The Ministry and the NCA have taken proactive regulatory steps to safeguard consumers and ensure stability in the telecoms sector.
Background
The current impasse between ATC and AT dates back to 2020. Since then, there have been a series of meetings and exchanges of correspondence aimed at finding a lasting solution to the non-payment of recurring charges and legacy debt by AT.
By a letter dated 2nd June 2020, ATC notified the NCA of its intention to suspend electrical power supply to then Airtel Ghana Limited’s sites, including towers and equipment. The NCA intervened at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Subsequently, several meetings were held in an attempt to ensure AT honored its monthly charges and settled the legacy debt. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful, and the debt has continued to accumulate to in excess of US$150 million, leading to the current situation.
Government of Ghana’s Acquisition of AT
In 2021, following the exit of Bharti Airtel from Ghana, the Government of Ghana acquired the shares of AT for USD $1, in a bid to protect jobs and ensure the continuity of AT. The propriety or otherwise of that decision is evident in the current state of affairs.
Following this acquisition, ATC began making demands on the Government for payment of AT’s debts, with threats of shutting down AT’s sites if these demands were not met.
Current Situation
On 1st September 2025, ATC commenced the disconnection of power to AT’s radio access networks across the country due to the outstanding debt. To avoid a national crisis that could affect over three million subscribers of AT Ghana, the NCA directed AT and Telecel to immediately establish national roaming, thereby
migrating AT’s traffic onto Telecel’s network to minimize disruption.
It is important to note that AT’s services i.e. voice, SMS, data, and AT Money — remain intact. As Minister, I want to commend the exceptional skill and commitment shown by the technical teams of AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana to pull off this integration under very difficult circumstances. It reaffirms my belief that with the right policy direction, we have the requisite technical expertise in the two companies to make a compelling case for the Ghanaian engineers.
Expected Challenges
Some AT customers may experience limited challenges during the traffic migration, though the majority of subscribers are unlikely to notice any disruption.
The NCA and AT will issue timely communications to subscribers to address and resolve any concerns that may arise.
Future
Government has appointed KPMG as a transaction advisor to provide guidance on the future of AT, with the goal of establishing a strong second operator to address the imbalance in Ghana’s mobile market. The transaction advisor will also assess Government’s shareholding interests in Telecel Ghana towards the same goal.
The transaction advisor has been given a strict 60-day timeline to complete its work due to the urgency of the situation.
Future of Staff
The Government will ensure that the approximately 300 permanent staff of AT retain their employment. I have already met with the staff and offered assurances in this regard. The transaction advisor has instructions to also consider the fate of the over 200 contract staff of AT. I am grateful to the staff of AT Ghana for their openness and candour during my engagement with them.
I am fully aware of the gravity of the current situation on the workers and their families and dependants but I remain committed on behalf of Government to protect them from any adverse situation. We would see the sunshine again, very soon.
Let me be clear that this current arrangement is not a merger or acquisition. We are dealing with a force majeur situation and the work of the transaction advisor and its recommendations would lay out a clear path for the consideration of Government.
Conclusion
Government urges all stakeholders, including subscribers, tower companies, and creditors, to await the outcome of the transaction advisor’s work, which will provide clarity on outstanding debts, services, and the future of AT.
