The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation has confirmed plans to merge Telecel Ghana with AT Ghana (formerly AirtelTigo) in a bold move to strengthen the country’s telecom sector and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
ALSO READ: 12 Best Content Optimization Tools for SEO Success
The announcement came during a staff engagement session at AT Ghana’s head office in Accra, where sector minister Samuel Nartey George assured the company’s over 300 permanent employees that their jobs were secure under the new arrangement.
“This is not a re-application process. It is a continuation of your contracts. Every single employee will be absorbed unless you decide otherwise,” he stressed, adding that customers will not experience service disruptions during the transition.
ALSO READ: Fully Funded Open Door Russian Scholarship 2026
The ministry explained that the decision was largely influenced by AT Ghana’s worsening financial position. In just the first eight months of this year, the operator recorded losses of more than $10 million, sustained entirely by public funds.
“These are taxpayer resources,” Mr. George said. “Money that should be building roads, schools, and water systems. We cannot continue to use scarce public funds to finance an unsustainable operation.”
ALSO READ: Fully Funded in Australia: Monash University Scholarships 2026 Open Now
According to the minister, the merger will cut costs, eliminate duplication, and create a more resilient market. “It makes no sense for two networks to operate separately on the same tower and pay double fees while both struggle. Joining forces is the only sustainable choice,” he emphasized.
Already, more than 3.2 million AT Ghana subscribers have been integrated into Telecel’s network through a national roaming arrangement, which the ministry described as “98% successful.”
The full integration will be rolled out in three phases:
-
Technical migration – almost complete, with roaming already in effect.
-
Human resource alignment – ensuring all staff are absorbed before the end of September.
-
Commercial restructuring – finalizing the new business framework.
Mr. George disclosed that sustaining the merged operator will require about $600 million in fresh investment over the next four years. The government will contribute partly through spectrum sales but has called on Telecel and its partners to co-invest in the venture.
Currently, the government owns 100% of AT Ghana and holds a 30% stake in Telecel Ghana. Despite Telecel’s acquisition of Vodafone Ghana last year, both operators continue to face significant debt to vendors and partners.
The ministry is optimistic that the merger will not only stabilize operations but also strengthen Ghana’s telecom industry for long-term growth and competitiveness.
