Telecommunications expert, Marvin Appiah Osei, has shed light on why the Government of Ghana has decided to merge AirtelTigo with Telecel, citing mounting debts and the need to strengthen market presence as key factors. Speaking on Focus FM’s Teknokrat Show with host Khayrullah Issah Dobo, Mr. Osei explained that AirtelTigo, currently 100% state-owned, is struggling financially with debts exceeding GH¢200 million.
According to him, the merger is aimed at reviving the network and ensuring that government’s investment does not continue to drain resources. “AirtelTigo is technically a state-owned company now, and the debts are overwhelming.
By merging with Telecel, which also has government shares, the hope is to stabilize operations and strengthen competitiveness,” he noted. The expert further highlighted that the move is strategic, considering the current imbalance in Ghana’s telecom industry.
MTN dominates the market with about 75% share, while AirtelTigo and Telecel together hold only 25%. The merger, he said, is therefore expected to boost their collective market share and provide better competition.
Touching on comparisons between Ghana and other African markets, Mr. Osei urged stakeholders not to evaluate Ghana’s telecom sector solely through the lens of Nigeria. He pointed out that differences in taxation and operational costs make pricing and market dynamics distinct from country to country.
“This collaboration is government’s way of balancing the scales in the telecom space. Whether it will work or not depends on how efficiently the merged entity manages its resources,” he added.