The recent disruption of undersea cables has plunged Ghana into a widespread internet blackout, causing significant disruptions to various sectors, particularly business activities. Business owners report severe impacts on their operations, resulting in revenue loss and heightened anxiety among the Ghanaian public. An anonymous manager of a prominent online news portal expressed the severity of the situation, stating an inability to work effectively due to the internet outage.
Educators like Felix Sogah from Chemu Senior High School in Tema City lament the challenges they face in accessing essential resources for their work. Sogah highlights the difficulty in conducting research and obtaining data necessary for teaching, a task that has become increasingly arduous during the internet outage.
Ghanaian citizens, such as Angela Aidoo, also feel the effects of the internet disruption in their daily lives. Aidoo shares her struggles with accessing essential services like the Electricity Company of Ghana’s application to pay her electricity bill, resulting in inconveniences like having to endure periods of darkness when her meter expires.
The impact of the internet blackout extends beyond individual experiences, affecting critical sectors such as aviation, transportation, telecommunications, education, and health. The National Communications Authority (NCA) describes the situation as “unprecedented,” attributing the nationwide disruption to multiple undersea cable failures in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, and Portugal, severely limiting both mobile and fixed data services across the country.
The NCA reveals that four out of Ghana’s five main submarine cables have been affected, with significant loss in capacity, while one has completely lost its functionality. Efforts are underway to assess and repair the damage, with repair vessels expected to be dispatched to the affected locations. However, the NCA warns of a prolonged restoration process, estimating a minimum of five weeks for full-service recovery.
Despite the challenges posed by the internet blackout, the NCA reassures the public of its commitment to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to mitigate the impact on economic, academic, and social activities, underscoring the significance of restoring internet connectivity for Ghana’s overall development.
