Gov’t to merge AT Ghana and Telecel

The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation has announced plans to merge AT Ghana (formerly AirtelTigo) with Telecel Ghana to form what it describes as a stronger and more sustainable telecom operator.

At a staff engagement held at AT Ghana’s head office in Accra, Sector Minister Samuel Nartey George assured employees that the merger will not result in job losses.

All 300 permanent staff will be retained under their existing contracts.

“This is not a re-application process. It’s a continuation of your contracts. Everyone will be absorbed unless you choose to leave voluntarily,” he said.

The minister also guaranteed that AT Ghana customers will remain fully protected throughout the transition, with no disruption to services.

The decision to merge follows AT Ghana’s worsening financial position.

The operator has recorded losses of over $10 million in just the first eight months of the year.

The minister stressed that using public funds to sustain the company is no longer viable, noting that such funds should be redirected toward critical infrastructure like roads, water systems, and schools.

“These losses are funded by taxpayers. We cannot continue supporting an unsustainable business with public money,” he stated.

The merger is expected to reduce operational costs, eliminate duplication, and improve competitiveness in Ghana’s telecom sector.

Sam George pointed out the inefficiency of two struggling operators paying separately for shared infrastructure such as towers, and called the merger a “smart and necessary” move.

So far, more than 3.2 million AT Ghana subscribers have already been migrated onto Telecel’s network under a national roaming agreement, which the ministry described as 98% successful.

The integration will unfold in three stages: technical migration, which is nearly complete; human resource alignment, with all staff expected to be fully absorbed by the end of September; and commercial restructuring, which will establish the operational and brand framework for the merged entity.

On financing, the minister revealed that the merged company will require around $600 million in investment over the next four years.

This funding will come from a combination of government resources, including spectrum revenue and private capital from Telecel and its partners.

The government currently owns 100% of AT Ghana and holds a 30% stake in Telecel Ghana.

Both companies have been battling financial challenges and vendor debts, even after Telecel acquired Vodafone Ghana.