Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – Dr Abednego A. Lamangin Bandim, the Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu, has expressed concern over the frequency and duration of telecommunication network disruptions in Northern Ghana.
He said the disruptions, coupled with inadequate communication to consumers, had serious implications for healthcare, education, businesses, emergency response and public safety.
In a statement issued in Accra on Friday, Dr Bandim, also the Chairman of Parliament’s Information and Communication Committee, said he personally experienced a major disruption to the MTN network while travelling from Salaga to Tamale on September 26, 2026.
He said the network went off at about 1100 hours and was not restored until 1800 hours.
The MP said he had also received reports of similar disruptions in several communities in the Northern Sector, including parts of Damongo and Bunkpurugu, on the same day.
While acknowledging that telecommunication operators could experience unforeseen technical challenges, including fibre cuts and other infrastructure-related faults, Dr Bandim said such challenges should not prevent operators from communicating promptly with affected consumers.
“While the nature of some faults may make advance notice impossible, the absence of advance notice cannot mean the absence of communication altogether,” he said.
He noted that even where network outages prevented communication through SMS, operators could use other platforms to inform consumers about the disruptions, their causes and efforts to restore services.
Dr Bandim, therefore, called on MTN Ghana and other telecommunication operators to strengthen their communication protocols and ensure that consumers were promptly informed whenever major disruptions occurred.
He also appealed to the National Communications Authority (NCA) to pay particular attention to the frequency and duration of network disruptions, especially in Northern Ghana, and ensure that service providers met their obligations.
The MP said he would continue to monitor the situation and engage relevant stakeholders to understand the causes of the recurring disruptions and measures being taken to prevent them.
“Reliable telecommunication is no longer a luxury. It is an essential part of healthcare, education, commerce, emergency response and everyday life,” he said.
He urged MTN Ghana and other stakeholders to treat network disruptions with urgency and ensure that consumers in Northern Ghana received reliable services and timely information.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Joyce Danso
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