Ghana has been recognised as the fastest-improving country in Africa for digital development in 2025. This achievement follows significant policy changes, including the repeal of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) and the introduction of technology neutrality for telecom operators. This recognition comes from the 2025 editions of the GSMA’s Digital Nations and Society Index (DNSI) and Digital Policy and Regulatory Index (DPRI), which were presented at the Ministerial Programme of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
During the presentation on March 2, Kalvin Bahia, Senior Director of Economics at GSMA Intelligence, noted that Ghana showed the most substantial year-on-year improvement on the continent according to the composite index. Ghana is now one of only five African countries to score above the 50 per cent composite benchmark, a threshold associated with more advanced and enabling digital ecosystems.
The DNSI measures how deeply digital technologies are embedded in everyday life, from consumers using mobile money to businesses going online and governments digitising services. The DPRI assesses the strength, design and effectiveness of digital policies and regulatory frameworks. According to the GSMA analysis, Ghana’s progress was driven by measurable gains in both adoption and regulation.
Two key reforms stood out.
First, the government’s decision to grant technology neutrality in spectrum licensing allowed telecom operators to repurpose existing frequency bands, including 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz, for advanced mobile broadband services. By extending neutrality to all operators in 2025, the move improved network quality, accelerated 4G expansion, enhanced competition and strengthened investor confidence.
This reform significantly boosted Ghana’s DPRI score, particularly in regulatory design and market competitiveness. Second, the repeal of the Electronic Transfer Levy removed what many consumers and industry players had described as a major cost barrier to digital transactions. With the levy scrapped, mobile money usage increased, digital transaction volumes rose and reliance on cash declined, the GSMA report found.
The removal of the tax strengthened Ghana’s DNSI performance, especially in digital financial inclusion and consumer adoption indicators. Speaking in Barcelona, Mr. Bahia stressed that Africa’s digital progress depends not only on expanding infrastructure but also on creating policy environments that make digital services affordable and attractive to citizens.
In a statement, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation said Ghana’s performance demonstrates the tangible impact of regulatory reform, evidence-based policymaking and policies that prioritise affordability. By achieving the greatest improvement in Africa and crossing the 50% composite threshold, Ghana has reinforced its position as one of West Africa’s leading digital reformers. The government says it will continue to focus on regulatory modernisation, flexible spectrum management and inclusive digital finance to sustain momentum in future editions of the GSMA indices.
Source: Edward Acquah
