Ghana

Mobile networks and carriers in Ghana use 2 GSM bands, 2 UMTS bands, and 3 LTE bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work in Ghana. See the tables below for details.

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Ghana's mobile network has experienced significant growth and development over the past few decades. The country's first mobile money deployments launched in 2009, but the initial uptake was slow, with only about 350,000 Ghanaians actively using mobile money accounts after three years. This was a concern, given the rapid growth in mobile money account ownership in other countries like Kenya and Tanzania.

However, Ghana's mobile industry has since accelerated, driven by regulatory changes and the introduction of new technologies. The Bank of Ghana's 2008 Branchless Banking Guidelines initially created obstacles for mobile money growth by restricting e-money issuance and agent recruitment to consortiums of at least three licensed banks. This led to a free rider problem, where banks were discouraged from making investments that would benefit others in the consortium.

Despite these challenges, Ghana's mobile money market has shown remarkable growth. By 2017, mobile money account ownership had tripled, making Ghana one of the fastest-growing mobile money markets in Africa. The country's DFS industry now includes not only mobile money providers but also banks, FinTechs, and other entities leveraging mobile money account ownership to offer various use cases.

The competitive landscape in Ghana's mobile market is dominated by key players such as MTN, Vodafone Ghana, AirtelTigo, and Glo Mobile Ghana Limited. The merger of Tigo Ghana and Airtel Ghana in 2017 formed AirtelTigo, which aimed to challenge MTN's market share. However, in mid-2020, the parent companies of AirtelTigo decided to exit the market, and the operator was subsequently sold to the state in November 2021.

Ghana's mobile network has been instrumental in transforming the operations of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country. Mobile telephony has provided SMEs with tools to increase their business operations and customer engagement, leading to significant economic benefits.

Overall, Ghana's mobile network has evolved from a slow start to a thriving sector, driven by regulatory changes, technological advancements, and the innovative use of mobile services by both providers and users.

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Carriers

Name	# of frequency bands in use
Airtel	2
Glo	4
MTN	7
Tigo	4
Vodafone	5

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Frequencies in use

GSM

Name	Interface
900 MHz (E-GSM)	GSM
1800 MHz (DCS)	GSM

UMTS

Name	Interface
B1 (2100 MHz)	UMTS
B8 (900 MHz GSM)	UMTS

LTE

Name	Interface
B1 (2100 MHz)	LTE
B7 (2600 MHz)	LTE
B20 (800 MHz DD)	LTE

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