Gov’t Moves to Protect Ghana’s Fiber-Optic Network – Communications Minister
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Minister for Communications and Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced a series of measures aimed at safeguarding Ghana’s critical fiber-optic infrastructure in the wake of recent disruptions that have affected internet connectivity across the country.
Speaking to the media, the minister described the protection of Ghana’s fiber-optic network as a national security priority, noting that recent damages to undersea cables had highlighted the country’s vulnerability to both natural and human-induced disruptions.
“We cannot afford to treat our digital backbone with laxity,” he stressed. “The recent disruptions caused by multiple undersea cable cuts significantly impacted not only internet access but also critical services in banking, healthcare, education, and governance. This must never happen again.”
Mr. George said the government, in collaboration with the National Communications Authority (NCA), has initiated steps to create a more resilient and redundant fiber infrastructure that will prevent single points of failure. This includes plans to build additional inland and cross-border connections to neighboring countries and investing in terrestrial fiber routes.
He also indicated that the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) and other public-private partnerships will play a key role in financing the expansion and protection of the network. “We are reviewing our regulatory frameworks to ensure all telcos and ISPs follow best practices in the laying, maintenance, and monitoring of fiber infrastructure,” the minister added.
To further boost security, the ministry is working with the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces to map out critical points of the infrastructure and deploy monitoring systems and rapid response mechanisms.
The communications minister also called for public support in reporting cable theft and vandalism, warning that such acts have serious implications for the national economy. “We need a whole-of-society approach. Our digital future depends on how well we protect the infrastructure that drives it,” he emphasized. The government is expected to unveil a comprehensive fiber-protection strategy by the third quarter of 2025, which will outline both short-term interventions and long-term infrastructure planning.
