In the bustling world of Ghana’s telecommunications sector, a significant shift is on the horizon. The government of Ghana is taking a critical look at the taxation landscape that has long burdened telecom operators in the country. The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, recently revealed that there are currently 39 different taxes impacting the telecom industry under review. These taxes have been a source of concern for industry stakeholders as they pose challenges to business operations and innovation.
“Taxes levied on towers, regulatory fees, and other charges are creating hurdles for us,”
lamented one telecom executive during a recent public event discussing the issue. The weight of these taxes has reached such a tipping point that urgent reforms are being called for by industry players. Minister Owusu-Ekuful acknowledged the strain caused by this tax burden, emphasizing its unsustainability. She also highlighted ongoing discussions with the Finance Ministry to streamline these taxes in hopes of fostering a more conducive environment for telcos and digital businesses in Ghana.
The conversation around excessive taxation in Ghana’s telecom sector is not new. Industry insiders have long emphasized how high taxes limit their capacity to expand network infrastructure and provide affordable services to consumers. This predicament poses a significant obstacle to Ghana’s ambitions towards digital transformation.
Moreover, Minister Owusu-Ekuful hinted at broader digital reforms in the pipeline aimed at enhancing broadband accessibility and fostering digital skills development within the country. However, she underscored that addressing tax concerns must take precedence if Ghana aims to cultivate a vibrant digital economy.
As stakeholders eagerly await tangible outcomes from this review process, there is hope that real change will materialize rather than merely being another talking point. The entire industry, as well as everyday internet users in Ghana, stands to benefit from any positive developments stemming from these deliberations.
Moving beyond national borders into Africa’s startup ecosystem paints an equally fascinating picture – one marked by resilience and growth despite challenges along the way. In just five months between January and May 2025, African startups collectively raised an impressive $1 billion—a notable 40% surge compared to the previous year.
The journey through this period was indeed eventful; starting strong with $289 million raised in January but witnessing fluctuations thereafter including dips in funding amounts during certain months like March when only $50 million was secured. Despite these fluctuations, April brought about renewed investor confidence with $343 million raised followed by another noteworthy month where $254 million was secured across various deals.
Looking at this trend against a broader backdrop reveals an even more encouraging narrative – African startups garnered over $2.5 billion between June 2024 and June 2025 marking it as one of their most successful periods since early 2024. Notably leading this charge is Egypt which emerged as a standout performer raising $330 million so far—nearly accounting for one-third of all disclosed startup funding across Africa in 2025.
However, other countries like South Africa haven’t lagged behind either; evidenced by Telkom’s resurgence after five years with its first dividend declaration following an exceptional financial year boasting nearly 300% profitability growth driven largely by strategic transactions such as selling off its tower business Swiftnet among others .
Telkom’s success underscores its commitment towards evolving as South Africa’s ‘digital backbone’ accentuated by robust revenue streams particularly from mobile services which saw an upsurge both in subscribership numbers (now standing at 15.2 million) and associated revenues plus substantial gains from fiber-related services reflecting sound operational efficiency strategies .
Looking ahead , Telkom remains optimistic about sustaining its performance trajectory through continued focus on customer-centric approaches data-driven strategies reinforced network investments—an outlook set to resonate positively amongst shareholders while solidifying its position within South Africa’s telecommunications landscape.
In conclusion , amidst debates surrounding telecom levies reshaping Africa’s startup financing dynamics or witnessing Telkom’s triumphant return—it becomes evident that underlying each narrative lies tales of resilience adaptation showcasing how innovation thrives even amid adversities—a testament to Africa’s ever-evolving tech landscape promising exciting prospects ahead.
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