Telecommunications operators in Ghana have spent more than 20 million US dollars repairing damaged fibre optic cables this year.
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, says Ghana has recorded 8,578 fibre cuts so far in 2026, imposing a significant financial burden on network operators.
He says the money spent on repairs could instead have been used to expand telecommunications infrastructure and improve network coverage.
The Minister says road construction projects under the government’s Big Push programme account for 49 percent of the fibre cuts, while illegal mining, or galamsey, contributes another 25 percent.
He attributes the high number of incidents partly to the aggressive expansion of road projects, which increases the risk of underground fibre infrastructure being damaged during construction.
Sam George is therefore calling for greater care in road construction and other activities that could damage critical telecommunications infrastructure.
INSERT: SAM GEORGE
He says protecting fibre infrastructure is crucial to maintaining reliable telecommunications services and ensuring that funds meant for expanding connectivity are not continually diverted into repairs.
