Starlink is currently operating in Ghana
The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has stated that it has become necessary for Starlink to establish a physical office in Accra, Ghana, since the company is already operating its services in the country.
He revealed that he has directed regulators to notify Starlink of the need to set up a local office.
According to the Minister, the decision to grant Starlink a license to operate in Ghana without ensuring the company had a physical presence was not well thought through.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 on April 11, 2025, he said, “They need to have an office, yes, they need to. You can’t operate in our country and not have a presence here. I mean, I thought that the decision to even give the license without making sure they are resident in the country was poorly thought through.”
Last year, Ghana’s communications regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA), announced that Starlink, a company affiliated with American billionaire and inventor Elon Musk, would officially begin operations in Ghana by the end of August 2024.
A statement issued by the NCA on August 22, 2024, confirmed that the decision followed the completion of all administrative and licensing procedures. It also stated that the internet service would be managed by SpaceX Starlink GH LTD.
Starlink is currently operating in Ghana.
Sam George expressed concerns that Starlink’s lack of local presence poses a risk to consumers, particularly when issues arise.
“Because today, if there’s a problem involving a Starlink client and the regulator needs to speak with them, we have to send an email to someone sitting somewhere in the US, and it can take two to three weeks for them to come down. What kind of regulation is that?” he said.
“All the other players in the industry are resident here. When I need to meet the CEO of any MNO, I can call, and within an hour, he’s in my office or at the regulator’s office. To protect the interest of the Ghanaian people, why should I have to send an email to someone offering services in my country and then wait weeks for a response?”
He added that this issue is not unique to Ghana, as many ICT ministers across the sub-region have also expressed concerns about the lack of physical representation by Starlink in their countries.
SSD/MA
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