Ghana officially gained full internet connectivity in 1995, according to Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, the scientist and engineer credited with pioneering internet development in the country.
Prof. Quaynor explained that although Ghana had begun experimenting with internet connections as early as 1993, it was not until 1995 that the country had what he described as “full connectivity.”
“Yes, [it was in 1995 that we officially christened internet in Ghana], and the reason for it [was that] we had something that we call full connectivity—meaning that the line joining the internet is on all the time,” he said on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Monday September 22.
He recalled that in December 1993, Ghana had its first experimental connection to the internet through the United Kingdom. However, access to the international line was limited .
“We were only opening that international line every four hours,” he said.
In 1994, the system was upgraded to a leased line, but it was still slow, running at 9.6 kilobits per second and could only transmit email. The breakthrough came in 1995 when a satellite dish was installed, making Ghana’s internet connection permanent and more accessible.
Before the internet era, Ghana had already begun laying the foundation for digital transformation. Prof. Quaynor noted that personal computers started arriving in the country around 1988, and institutions like KNUST were producing graduates who were ready to take on roles in government and industry.
He said these developments, along with nationwide literacy efforts and a government committed to digital advancement, made the environment ripe for adopting the internet.
“We had also done a lot of literacy in general for awareness, and then this very government that had this can-do attitude also was very keen on making sure we didn’t miss this boat,” he said.
From his position at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Prof. Quaynor supported other state institutions such as ECG and VRA in preparing for digital transformation, contributing to the broader adoption of internet technologies across key sectors.
He also gave context to the internet’s global development, explaining that before it became widely accessible, it existed as a U.S. military initiative.
“Prior to that, the internet was there, but it was there as a special project called the ARPA project—Advanced Research Project Agency,” he noted.
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