Minister for Communication Sam George presses MTN to resolve data price rollout delay

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has held an emergency meeting with executives of MTN Ghana to address a technical failure that has disrupted the rollout of reduced data prices, particularly the highly anticipated ‘399 bundle’.

The meeting, convened in response to mounting public concerns, brought together key figures, including MTN Ghana’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Ms Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, to discuss the system crash that occurred during the launch of new data pricing packages.

According to MTN, three core services, including its main data subscription system and two supporting platforms, crashed despite having passed User Acceptance Testing (UAT) in the sandbox environment. The failure, which was not the result of a security breach, led to significant user challenges, including the inability to purchase new bundles, transaction failures, and error messages.

A major casualty of the crash was the temporary unavailability of the ‘399 bundle’, a large data package intended to serve high-volume users such as students, content creators, and professionals.

MTN said all three systems have since been restored, and engineers are now reconfiguring the affected platforms and correcting data balances to ensure smooth operation.

Hon. George urged MTN to prioritise transparent and proactive communication, noting that he had taken to social media personally to keep the public informed. He emphasised the urgency of the matter and called on MTN to ensure that full services, including the ability to purchase the 399 bundle, are restored by the end of the day.

“Ghanaians deserve clarity and timely updates. We must avoid public mistrust, especially when it involves something as vital as digital access,” the Minister stated.

He expressed optimism that, barring any unforeseen glitches, MTN’s systems would be fully operational by midnight. The Ministry, he added, will continue to work closely with MTN to ensure a complete resolution and to uphold the government’s commitment to affordable and accessible digital services for all.