Government gives NGIC until Q4 2025 to deliver 5G network or face licence review
Accra. Ghana - 6 July, 2025 - Ghana’s government has set a final deadline of December 2025 for the Next Generation Infrastructure Company (NGIC) to roll out the country’s long-awaited 5G network, warning that failure to meet this target will prompt a review of the company’s exclusive licence.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on 3 July 2025, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Samuel Nartey George issued a stern ultimatum to NGIC, which has missed two prior deadlines in November 2024 and June 2025.
"Let me declare that we have agreed with NGIC that there will be no further extensions to this rollout deadline. If the company fails to meet the Q4 deadline commitment, the ministry will immediately initiate a review and possible renegotiation of the licence term," Mr. George firmly stated.
The delay in delivering high-speed 5G connectivity, a cornerstone of Ghana’s digital transformation agenda, has heightened public frustration and raised questions about the nation’s ambition to become a West African tech hub.The NGIC, a consortium formed by the Ghanaian government, Ascend Digital, K-NET, Nokia, Radisys, and Tech Mahindra, was granted a 10-year exclusive licence in 2024 to build and operate a shared 4G/5G network, a model designed to reduce infrastructure costs and accelerate nationwide access. Unlike traditional approaches where mobile operators build separate networks, Ghana’s strategy consolidates infrastructure to lower data prices and extend coverage to rural areas.
The initiative aligns with the government’s Digital Agenda 2030, aiming to bridge the digital divide in a country where only 15% of mobile users have adopted 4G, with 71% still on 3G and 14% on 2G, according to the Ministry of Communications. The 5G network promises speeds up to 10 Gbps, ultra-low latency for real-time applications, and capacity for millions of simultaneous device connections, potentially transforming sectors like healthcare, education, and finance for Ghana’s 34 million citizens.
Despite a ceremonial launch in November 2024, NGIC has struggled to meet operational targets.
As of 3 July 2025, only 16 of the planned 350 5G-ready cell sites are operational, far short of the 50-site commitment for Accra and Kumasi, Ghana’s largest cities.
George acknowledged progress, noting that NGIC has secured National Communications Authority (NCA) approval for its core network infrastructure, including data centres and network operations centres.
"We have set a final deadline of Q4 2025, where at least 50 live 5G sites are expected in Accra and Kumasi," Mr. George reiterated. "These milestones reflect meaningful progress following earlier delays in 2024."
"The national rollout model is a deliberate policy shift to reduce infrastructure duplication, lower data costs, and accelerate universal 5G access for all Ghanaians," he explained.
However, challenges such as spectrum interference in the 3.5GHz and 2.1GHz bands, delays in regulatory approvals for connecting entity licences, and hesitancy from mobile operators have stalled progress.
