Ghana has become the second nation to formally endorse the “1 for 2” internet affordability target. This week, at a meeting of the A4AI-Ghana Coalition in Accra, Minister of Communications for Ghana Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful formally announced Ghana’s intent to start working toward “1 for 2” — that is, 1GB of mobile broadband for 2% or less of average monthly income. In doing so, Ghana has become the second country to endorse this target, behind Nigeria which endorsed the target in February, and following the publication of a communique in October 2016 which encouraged countries to endorse and work towards the “1 for 2” target.

The 27-28 March meeting of the A4AI-Ghana Coalition brought together stakeholders from civil society, private sector, and government agencies, and featured sessions on the A4AI 2017 Affordability Report and its Ghana-specific findings. Ghana’s ranking as 26th (out of 58 countries surveyed) on the 2017 Affordability Drivers Index (ADI) has remained the same since our 2015-16 Affordability Report. Currently, only 24% of Ghana’s population is online (ITU) and a 1GB mobile bundle costs the average Ghanaian 4% of their monthly income. 

Adoption of the more ambitious “1 for 2” target marks a significant step towards enabling connectivity for more Ghanaians. Bringing the cost of a basic internet connection to this level will allow more Ghanaians, including some of the lowest income earners, to afford to connect, and will bring Ghana that much closer to realising a vision of universal affordable internet access. We congratulate Ghana for taking this important step, and we at A4AI stand ready to help turn this vision of affordable internet for all into reality.

Learn more about A4AI’s work in Ghana by visiting the A4AI-Ghana Coalition page, and read our 2017 Affordability Report in full here.

For more updates, follow us on Twitter at @A4A_Internet.