The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has disclosed that his ministry has turned down a request from MTN Ghana to reintroduce its popular “Zone” data bundle.

Speaking during a live X Space session hosted by social media influencer KalyJay on Thursday, June 12, 2025, the minister explained that the decision—though likely to be unpopular among consumers—was made in the interest of safeguarding competition within the telecommunications sector.

“MTN wants to bring Zone back, but as a minister, I have said no,” Sam George stated.
“It’s a bitter pill we have to take today, so we don’t end up with a single-player monopoly that would put the country in a worse situation.”

He noted that the Zone bundle, which previously allowed MTN to offer steep discounts on data packages, gave the company an unfair pricing advantage that could have driven smaller operators out of the market. With MTN currently controlling nearly 80% of Ghana’s telecom market, reintroducing such aggressive pricing, he said, would undermine fair competition.

“Zone was allowing MTN to undercut the market and price below standard rates. If we reintroduce it now, by the end of the year, the other networks might not survive,” the minister cautioned.

In response to public concerns over higher data costs, Sam George revealed that the ministry is exploring alternative measures to cushion consumers. These include bonus increases and percentage adjustments on data packages to ensure affordability without compromising market balance.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining a competitive and equitable telecom environment, adding that strong regulation is necessary to prevent monopolistic dominance and promote innovation across all networks.