Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Minister Samuel Nartey George has revealed that illegal mining activities account for about 25 percent of fibre cuts that disrupt telecommunications services across Ghana. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, September 7, the Minister said the telecommunications sector has been one of the hardest hit by the activities of illegal miners, who frequently damage fibre infrastructure during excavation without reporting the incidents to the relevant authorities.
According to him, repeated fibre cuts within a short period can severely affect network connectivity, particularly along major routes linking different parts of the country. “Twenty-five percent of that is galamsey. The telecom industry is one of the worst hit by the activities of galamsey operators because they just go in, they dig, they cut, and even with the road contractors, you are lucky because they may report it to you. Galamsey operators won’t report anything to you. So it’s a real challenge that the sector is facing,” he said.
Mr George also cited a recent incident in which three separate fibre lines serving northern Ghana were cut within two hours during various Big Push construction works. The outages significantly degraded network services in Tamale, leaving some residents unable to make phone calls. He added that private developers and other individuals undertaking construction activities were responsible for another 26 percent of fibre cuts recorded across the country.
