By Mabel Adorkor Annang
The Smart Africa Alliance has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing Ghana as a unified digital market by 2030, with the recent launch of 5G technology positioned as a critical milestone in this journey.
The Alliance, an organization focused on fast-tracking Africa’s digital transformation, sees Ghana’s 5G rollout as a powerful enabler of economic growth and social progress.
By providing unprecedented high-speed, low-latency connectivity, Ghana is now primed to attract new technological investments and develop a thriving, innovative tech ecosystem.
Ghana has long been a telecommunications leader in Africa, embracing liberalization in 1992 and witnessing impressive growth in internet access since then.
Nearly 19 million mobile subscribers in Ghana now have access to the internet—a significant leap from just 2 percent in 2005.
The deployment of 5G technology promises even greater strides, particularly in agriculture, education, healthcare, and finance, marking Ghana as a focal point for digital advancement in Africa.
Speaking on how 5G could address Africa’s digital challenges, Lacina Koné, Director General of the Smart Africa Alliance, emphasized the transformative potential of this technology.
“Technology brings you banking services without a bank, healthcare without a hospital, and universities without a physical campus. With 5G, we’re creating more inclusive opportunities in underserved areas,” he said.
Koné further highlighted that Africa’s digital market is valued at approximately 80 billion US Dollars, with over 822 billion US Dollars in transaction value recorded across the continent in 2023.
“Digital inclusion is where we should put our resources, and this is the right moment to invest in it,” he added.
The potential impact of 5G in Ghana extends beyond connectivity, serving as a catalyst for advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and smart city solutions. With these capabilities, Ghana’s digital infrastructure can bridge service gaps and bring critical resources to remote communities.
The 5G rollout in Ghana is being spearheaded by NextGen Infraco, a consortium of companies that will manage the project for the next ten years.
The consortium, led by seasoned telecom experts, includes global technology companies such as Radisys, Nokia, and Tech Mahindra. Tony Awoonor, Senior Manager at NextGen Infraco Ghana, assured the public of his company’s commitment to maximizing the benefits of 5G technology for all Ghanaians.
“We’re leveraging the expertise of our partners—pioneers in telecom to build robust infrastructure that supports 5G for the nation,” Awoonor stated.
The initial deployment of 5G technology will cover key regions, including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, and parts of the Northern Region.
These areas will serve as testing grounds for the new technology, facilitating a gradual but comprehensive rollout across Ghana.
As Ghana embraces 5G, it is set to become a model for digital transformation across Africa.
By focusing on inclusive digital growth, the Smart Africa Alliance and its partners are working to ensure that technology benefits both urban centers and remote communities.
Ghana’s approach not only aligns with the Smart Africa Alliance’s vision but also sets a standard for the rest of the continent, demonstrating the power of public-private partnerships to drive transformative change.
