Telecel Ghana has called for increased public support in tackling the growing problem of fibre cuts and theft of telecommunications infrastructure, warning that the trend continues to disrupt services and impose significant costs on the telecommunications industry.
The Director of External Affairs at Telecel Ghana, Komla Buami, made the appeal during a media roundtable discussion in Kumasi, describing fibre vandalism and infrastructure theft as major threats to reliable connectivity across the country.
According to him, while road construction activities remain a leading cause of fibre cuts, deliberate acts of vandalism and theft are increasingly contributing to service disruptions.
“One of the major challenges Telecel has faced over the years is the persistent issue of fibre cuts,” Mr. Buami said. “Beyond road construction activities, we continue to experience incidents where people deliberately cut fibre cables, often in communities where awareness about the impact of such actions remains low.”
He noted that theft of fibre chamber covers has also emerged as a significant concern, creating operational difficulties and exposing critical infrastructure to damage.
“The impact of fibre cuts on the telecommunications industry has been enormous. Industry-wide, losses attributed to fibre cuts have exceeded billions of dollars over the past four years, and on average, we experience between three and nine fibrecuts every day,” he disclosed.
Mr. Buami explained that repairing damaged fibre infrastructure is a complex and expensive process that goes beyond simply reconnecting cables.
“Once a cut occurs, our technical teams must first identify the exact location of the fault before restoration work can begin. Every fibre cut has the potential to disconnect millions of customers from voice and data services,” he said.
He therefore called on the public to take an active role in safeguarding telecommunications infrastructure.
“That is why we are appealing to all members of the public—not only road contractors, but everyone who relies on internet and voice services—to become vigilant and help protect telecommunications infrastructure,” he stated.
Rising Cases of Equipment Theft
Beyond fibre cuts, Mr. Buami expressed concern over the increasing theft of telecommunications equipment from network facilities.
“We have recorded incidents where individuals broke into our facilities and stole generators, batteries and other essential equipment,” he said. “Any theft involving telecommunications equipment directly affects service delivery and can leave communities without connectivity.”
He stressed that telecommunications infrastructure plays a critical role in national development and should be protected collectively by citizens, security agencies and industry stakeholders.
While Telecel continues to strengthen security at its installations, he urged security agencies to incorporate telecommunications facilities into their routine surveillance operations.
“We are also implementing additional security measures to prevent unauthorized access to our facilities and minimize the risk of theft,” he added, noting that some arrests had been made in connection with previous incidents.
Mr. Buami further revealed that Telecel has been engaging the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ministry of Communications and other stakeholders to reduce the incidence of fibre cuts and protect critical infrastructure nationwide.
Telecel Launches Ashanti Week Investment Drive
Meanwhile, Telecel Ghana has designated June as “Ashanti Week”, a month-long programme aimed at deepening investments, partnerships and community engagement activities across the Ashanti Region.
“June is a massive investment period for us, and we have dedicated it as our Ashanti Week,” Mr. Buami announced. “Throughout the month, all senior management executives of the business will be in the Ashanti Region to engage in strategic partnerships and initiatives aimed at driving development and creating opportunities for residents.”
He said the Telecel Foundation would lead several corporate social responsibility interventions across the region as part of the initiative.
1,000 Youth to Benefit from Coding and Robotics Training
A major highlight of Ashanti Week will be the launch of the Ashanti Code initiative, which seeks to equip young people with digital skills.
“Through this programme, over 1,000 young people—70 percent of whom will be girls—will receive training in coding and robotics,” Mr. Buami revealed.
The programme will be officially launched on June 11, with training to be conducted both physically and online to ensure wider accessibility.
“The good news is that Ashanti Code will not be limited to in-person participation. Individuals who are unable to attend the physical training centres will also have the opportunity to register and access the programme online through our digital learning platform,” he said.
Hospital Support and Community Engagement
Telecel also plans to undertake a major health-sector intervention during the month by adopting a hospital ward in the region and investing in infrastructure and support services.
“We intend to adopt one of the hospital wards and undertake a number of interventions. The value of the donation, which will run into millions of Ghana cedis, will be announced on the day of presentation,” Mr. Buami stated.
The company will further partner the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on a sporting event and participate in the Ashanti Golf Tournament as part of broader community engagement activities.
Customers across the region are also expected to benefit from promotional activities and special packages throughout the month.
“The month of June promises to be an exciting one for the Ashanti Region,” he said. “These activities are not only for the people of Kumasi but for the entire region. Wherever you are in Ashanti, one or more of these initiatives will reach you.”
