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The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has rejected allegations that the telecom operator is involved in the theft of customers’ data, as concerns mount over the rapid depletion of data bundles among subscribers.
His comments come in response to a growing wave of complaints from users who say their data is being consumed faster than expected, with some claiming unexplained losses. The issue has sparked widespread debate, particularly on social media, where customers have called for greater transparency from service providers.
Addressing the matter on Friday, April 17, Mr Blewett firmly dismissed the allegations, stating that the company has no motivation to engage in practices that would undermine customer trust and loyalty.
“There’s zero incentive for MTN to steal data from you. Because it will just chase people away. It’s not something we do; it’s not part of our values. So there’s a lot that we have to do as customers. We have to be very responsible,” he said.
Rather than attributing the issue to any wrongdoing, Mr Blewett pointed to changing patterns in digital consumption, explaining that the way customers use smartphones today has significantly increased data usage.
He noted that many mobile applications run continuously in the background, consuming data even when not actively in use. In addition, automatic updates and the growing preference for high-definition video streaming have further accelerated data consumption rates.
The MTN Ghana CEO emphasised that these factors, often unnoticed by users, could quickly deplete data bundles, creating the impression of unexplained losses.
He therefore encouraged customers to take a more active role in managing their data usage by monitoring application activity and adjusting device settings, particularly video quality and background data permissions.
Mr Blewett said improving digital awareness among users would help address misconceptions while enabling customers to better control their data consumption in an increasingly connected environment.