Access to affordable internet is crucial in today’s digital economy, yet Ghanaians continue to pay more for data services in the sub-region although the country has been ranked second in terms of lowest average price per one gigabyte.
But what is driving these high costs, and what can be done to make data more affordable?
Mobile data has become an essential part of daily life, driving business operations, education, and social interactions.
Yet, a closer look reveals that Ghanaians are paying significantly more for data, especially those who do not take advantage of promotional packages from telecom providers.
According to UK-based research firm Cable.co, the average cost of 1GB of data in Ghana stands at $0.40. However, the National Communications Authority (NCA) estimates the average price at a much higher $0.96.
But what do consumers think? In an interview with Citi Business News, opinions were divided, with many insisting that data prices remain high.
Nana Yaw is a content creator and entrepreneur he opines that the prices of mobile data is making life for a start-up difficult.
“The current cost of data is really impacting me. Basically, I spend an average of GHS 50 on mobile data ,this is about 3 or 4 GB. I have had to reduce the number of hours I spent over the internet,” he said.
For Patrick Opoku who is a freelancer, he explains that although the cost of data is high he just has to cope with the prices.
“If the prices can come down especially with MTN it will be okay but Vodafone is quite better. But this is a case you need the data that much so you will have to ignore the amount and just get”, he explained.
I interacted with a few more people. Some are exploring the promotional packages being offered by the various telecom providers including Just4U, 2Moorch, Big Time Data and more, but the sentiment about high cost of data is no different.
Interestingly, while Ghana’s prices may seem steep, neighboring countries like Togo and Côte d’Ivoire charge even more—$1.56 and $1.97 per GB, respectively.
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications attributes Ghana’s data costs to factors such as high taxes, infrastructure expenses, and regulatory policies.
Speaking to Citi Business News, the, Chief Executive of the Chamber, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, emphasized the need for a balanced approach in addressing structural issues within the telecom sector to ensure fairness for both consumers and network operators.
” It is always important to situate these conversations in context. A proper disaggregation of inflation will indicate that telecommunications don’t carry much wait. But be as it may the price build up and inputs are very expensive,” he explained.
He added that it would be in the interest of the telcos for the charges to go down further to increase usage.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, has inaugurated a committee tasked with developing a roadmap to reduce data costs in Ghana. The committee has 14 days to present its recommendations to make mobile data more affordable and accessible to all citizens.
