
The Minister-Designate for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has stated that the classification of MTN a Significant Market Power (SMP) has completely failed to serve the purpose of correcting the market imbalance, so it will be reviewed under his leadership.
He accused the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of merely using the SMP classification as a punitive measure against MTN Ghana instead of proper implementing it to drive fair competition, provide consumers with choice and protect consumers against abuse.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 30, Sam George noted that despite the classification, MTN’s market share had continued to grow far above the non-SMP operators, proving that the policy was ineffective in addressing the yawning market imbalance.
Sam George assured the committee that under the John Mahama administration, the SMP framework would be implemented fairly to promote competition without unfairly targeting any single investor.
According to him, the policy should serve as a corrective measure that encourages equitable participation in the sector rather than one that discourages investment.
He emphasised that telecom consumers must have multiple options, and regulatory actions should support that goal rather than punish companies that have contributed significantly to the sector’s growth.
The SMP classification, introduced by the National Communications Authority (NCA) in 2020, was aimed at regulating MTN’s dominance, as the company was said to had for several years controlled over 75 percent of the voice, data, SMS, mobile money and telecoms revenue market share in Ghana.
Under the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), the NCA was empowered to impose price controls, review charges, and create an environment that fosters fair competition among industry players.
However, Sam George argued that instead of correcting distortions in the market, the policy had been weaponised against MTN, but the two other telcos are also not benefitting from the policy implementation in anyway. Meanwhile, consumers also continue to suffer, as MTN has been compelled to collapse affordable data bundles by reason of its SMP status.
Despite the restrictions, MTN Ghana has continued to grow even bigger than its competitors. Between June 2020, when MTN was declared SMP and December 2024, MTN has seen significant gains in market share across board, while its competitors have lost significantly.
As of June 2020, MTN had about 55% voice market share, but now, per the NCA’s own figures, it has passed 75%. Its data market share in June 2020 was around 67%, but now, together with 4G, it has cross 80%. On the mobile money front, MTN’s market share is almost 90%.
Sam George maintained that under his leadership, the SMP designation would be reassessed to ensure a level playing field while maintaining an environment that supports investment and innovation in the telecommunications industry.
He pledged that the Mahama administration would work to promote competition and improve consumer choices without undermining businesses that have played a crucial role in Ghana’s digital transformation.
