Galamsey accounts for 25% of fibre cuts across Ghana, Communications and Digital Technology Minister Samuel Nartey George has disclosed.

The Minister said the growing destruction of fibre-optic infrastructure by illegal miners is becoming a major threat to the stability of Ghana’s telecommunications sector, with operators forced to deal with frequent disruptions to network services.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, September 7, 2026, Sam George said galamsey now accounts for about 25% of fibre cuts nationwide.

He said although road construction and private development projects have traditionally been among the major causes of fibre damage, illegal mining has emerged as a significant contributor.

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“Twenty-five percent of fibre cuts are a result of galamsey. The telecom industry is one of the worst hit by the activities of galamsey operators,” he stated.

According to the Minister, illegal miners often damage underground fibre cables while carrying out mining activities but fail to report the incidents to telecommunications companies or the relevant authorities.

He compared this with road contractors, who he said are more likely to report fibre damage when it occurs during construction.

“Road contractors will often report fibre cuts, but galamsey operators won’t report them, and that is a real challenge to the sector,” he said.

Fibre-optic cables are critical to Ghana’s telecommunications infrastructure, carrying voice and data traffic that supports mobile networks, internet services and digital businesses across the country.

When these cables are damaged, affected areas can experience poor connectivity or service disruptions, particularly where there are no alternative routes to immediately redirect network traffic.

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The repeated cuts also place an additional financial burden on telecommunications companies, which have to deploy engineers and equipment to identify damaged sections, repair the cables and restore services.

The Minister’s disclosure adds a new dimension to the impact of illegal mining, indicating that galamsey is not only affecting Ghana’s environment and water bodies but is also disrupting critical digital infrastructure.

DR/MA

Government Accountability Series with Minister for Communications Hon. Samuel Nartey George