By Adnan Adams Mohammed
Ghana is accelerating its journey toward becoming a fully digitized economy, with the government setting an ambitious target to achieve 70% 5G population coverage by March 6, 2027.
This technological leap is being matched by calls from the private sector to reform digital financial services, ensuring that the next generation of connectivity translates into tangible economic relief for the average Ghanaian.
The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has outlined a bold roadmap to transition the country from 4G dominance to high-speed 5G infrastructure. The March 2027 deadline, strategically set to coincide with Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary, aims to place the nation at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in West Africa.
“5G is not just about faster internet for social media; it is about the backbone of our digital economy,” a senior official from the National Communications Authority (NCA) noted. “To reach 70% coverage in less than a year and a half is a massive undertaking, but it is necessary if we want to support telemedicine, smart agriculture, and a more efficient public sector.”
The rollout is expected to be driven by the newly licensed shared infrastructure companies, which are tasked with reducing the capital expenditure for traditional Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), thereby speeding up deployment to peri-urban and rural areas.
Moving beyond connectivity: The case for digital credit
While the government focuses on the “pipes” of the digital economy, industry leaders are focusing on the “flow” of capital through those pipes.
Speaking at a recent financial technology forum, the Managing Director of Telecel Cash, Philip Amoateng, urged a significant shift in how digital credit systems are managed in Ghana. He argued that connectivity alone isn’t enough; the financial systems built on top of it must be more supportive of the consumer.
“We need to move towards digital credit systems that are not just transactional, but truly supportive of the user’s financial journey,” Amoateng stated. “The current high-interest, short-term lending models often create a cycle of debt. We should be leveraging data and 5G connectivity to build more sophisticated credit-scoring models that offer fairer rates and longer repayment periods.”
Amoateng highlighted that as 5G expands, the ability to process real-time data will allow mobile money providers to better understand consumer behavior, leading to more “empathetic” financial products. “The goal is to move from ‘predatory’ to ‘productive’ credit,” he added.
Bridging the gap
The synergy between 5G expansion and improved digital credit is seen as the ultimate solution to Ghana’s financial inclusion challenges. Currently, while many Ghanaians have mobile money accounts, a significant portion remains “credit-starved” or reliant on informal, high-interest lenders.
“If we have 70% 5G coverage, we have the speed to run AI-driven credit platforms,” said Dr. Elias Preko, a digital economist. “But as Telecel’s MD rightly pointed out, the policy framework must ensure these platforms support the worker. If we get this right, a farmer in a rural area can access an affordable loan via 5G in seconds to buy fertilizer. That is true digital transformation.”
Industry skepticism and hope
Despite the optimism, some sector players remain wary of the aggressive 5G timeline, citing the high cost of compatible devices for the average citizen.
“The infrastructure might be there by 2027, but if the 5G handsets are too expensive, the coverage statistics won’t mean much for the ordinary Ghanaian,” warned a tech analyst at the forum.
However, with the government’s commitment to the March 2027 goal and the private sector’s push for more inclusive financial tools, Ghana appears to be doubling down on its digital bet. The coming months will be a litmus test for whether the “Gold Coast” can successfully transform into a “Digital Hub” that delivers both high-speed data and high-value financial dignity to its citizens.
