Internet access challenges are usually seen as a normal thing in most African countries including Ghana. The scenarios ranged from the banking systems experiencing low rates of internet resulting in long queues at the banking halls to prepaid vending machines recording error 77 leaving many stranded customers unattended to.

But the zenith of these challenges was the total internet shut down experienced by many in Ghana from the 14th of March 2024. Ghana might not be alone in this battle of internet challenges. Neighboring Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Bénin, Nigeria, Liberia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Lesotho among others were also affected.

Speaking to a cross section of Ghanaian business severely affected by the crisis, Daniel Asamoah an Uber driver in Accra says for the past three days he is grounded because Uber cars cannot run without GPS.

“The internet issue started three days ago. Just that the first day was slow so many people didn’t feel like yesterday and today. I pray the responsible authorities act fast to revert the situation if not we’ll be hungry”

The situation is no different at hotels in Accra, at Kempiski one of five-star hotels in Ghana is looking for alternatives to check in its clients as the internet shut down continues. (Lydia Ofosu) not a real name at the client service department narrates they’re finding alternative solutions to the challenge.

“We’re trying to find an alternative solution to the problem for now. Since this is just beyond us as workers and even as a country. We would try and do manual booking for starters while we navigate through this”.

The National Communications Authority in a five-bullet point says the shutdown is as a result of the underground cable cut in the subsea. The Authority says it has held a face-to-face meeting with all four (4) subsea cable landing service providers (ACE, MainOne, SAT-3 and WACS); and the three (3) mobile network operators (AT, MTN and Telecel). to receive updates and discuss the way forward.

“Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and subsea cable landing service providers continue to work with their international partners in the sub-region to progressively add more capacity for data services as it becomes available.”

The subsea cable landing service providers have remotely identified the approximate locations of the damage and have made preparations to dispatch repair vessels to the location for physical assessment and restoration.

According to the authority an estimated time frame of a minimum of five (5) weeks is given for full-service restoration from the time the vessels are dispatched to the various locations.

Most private businesses are currently feeling the brunt of the impact the disruptions have had on their activities in the capital are demanding the government sought for an alternative solution to the crisis.

Speaking with Victor Tagborloh, co-founder and CEO Galaxy groups said it’s about time the country invests in satellite technologies to aid the country as well as harness its benefits.

“We need an alternative and I would say, proper investment into satellite technology would go a long way to help solve the situation and also generate lot of revenue for the country”

 There’s the need to explore viable technologies that can help propel the country’s economy from its current state. We can do it with the right mindset and attitude, Tagborloh explained.

The economic, academic and social activities of many businesses including individuals are affected by the intermittent data supply.

But the communications Minister Ursula Owusu Ekuful has assured the public of her outfit’s commitment to relevant stakeholders to get the issue resolved. “As part of plans to resolve the current crisis we’re in the process of licensing star link for starters while we explore other means of restoring bandwidth services. We expect some improvement in data services in the coming days while the operators work around the clock to restore full connectivity”.

“In the meantime, priority is given to some key institutions and service providers to serve critical needs of the public.

Bank of Ghana (BoG), Ghana Association of Banks (GAB)

Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Central Securities Depository, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mobile Network Operators (MINOs), Subsea Cable Landing Service Providers

Ghana Internet Exchange (GIX), Accra Internet Exchange (AIX)”

The sector minister said the objective of the meeting was to understand and find solutions to the peculiar challenges facing financial and public utility service providers regarding the impact of the current data connectivity disruptions affecting banking transactions and digital payments of utilities such as water and electricity.

She hinted that at the end of the meeting, it was agreed that due to the limited bandwidth currently available, MNOs would review their operations and consider the possibility of prioritizing and allocating more data resources to the above-mentioned and other critical services while they work with the Subsea Cable Landing Service Providers to progressively improve internet data capacity.

She encouraged MNOs, Internet Service Providers, and all other providers to actively participate in the operations of the Ghana Internet Exchange (GIX) in order to ensure an efficient local content delivery and a seamless Internet traffic exchange