
Approximately 72,754 Telecel Ghana subscribers are currently facing significant service interruptions following a double fibre cut in the Central Region. The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, confirmed the disruption, which has impacted voice and data services across several major towns and coastal communities. The incident has affected roughly 181 Radio Access Network (RAN) sites, leading to widespread connectivity issues for the telecommunications provider's customers.
The disruption was triggered by damage to cables along two critical routes: the Accra-Winneba and Winneba-Cape Coast corridors. Investigations revealed that the cuts were the result of excavation and road construction works being carried out by a contractor at the Winneba roundabout. Affected areas include Winneba, Agona Swedru, Ajumako, Abura Dunkwa, and various surrounding settlements. This highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting vital telecommunications infrastructure during large-scale civil engineering and road development projects.
In response to the outage, Telecel Ghana has deployed engineering teams to the affected sites to begin urgent repairs and restore connectivity. The company is also actively engaging with the road contractor on-site to ensure that further damage to the remaining infrastructure is avoided as construction continues. Telecel has issued a formal apology to its customers for the inconvenience, stressing that it is working to minimize the duration of the downtime while ensuring a stable fix for the network.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) is currently monitoring the situation to ensure that service standards are met and restoration is prioritized. This incident underscores a recurring problem in Ghana's digital landscape where a lack of coordination between utility providers and construction firms leads to significant disruptions. As Telecel works toward a full recovery of its services, the event serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of fibre-optic networks to physical damage and the need for more stringent oversight during road excavations.