Group President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, has said the company’s most profound impact across Africa lies not only in its financial performance but in how its technology is transforming the everyday lives of ordinary people.
Speaking in Accra during the Bright Conversation Series, held as part of his two-day working visit to Ghana, Mupita said MTN’s digital and financial tools are creating dignity, hope and opportunity for millions of Africans.
Transforming everyday lives
According to Mupita, MTN’s technology is enabling ordinary people, from market women selling tomatoes to small-scale entrepreneurs, to save a little more and provide for their children. “The real impact that we have is ordinary, everyday Africans across the continent who believe in a better life for themselves and their loved ones. They are leveraging MTN’s technology to realise that better life. It is giving people dignity, hope and opportunity,” he said.
Mupita noted that this impact is made possible by the resilience of MTN’s teams and the company’s long-term investments.
He recalled that in August, MTN reported one of its strongest financial performances in the past eight years, with Ghana playing a pivotal role in delivering those results.
“The results we released in August were probably the best set of financial results MTN has had in the last eight years I have been with the company. Ghana was a big part of it. The fact that our customers in Ghana and our stakeholders enabled us to do what we do, including paying taxes and making social contributions, is very important,” he added.
Ambition 2025 and beyond
Mupita emphasised that MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy is far from over.
He explained that although the company has substantially achieved the objectives it set for 2025, the needs of Africans have grown significantly, making it necessary to extend the roadmap into the future.
“Ambition 2025 doesn’t come to an end this year. We see an insatiable need by ordinary Africans to access the internet and consume data, and we also see many still excluded from essential digital and financial services. So we are now working beyond 2025, excited about the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.
Mupita revealed that MTN is shaping its future around three distinct businesses: connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure.
“The next big thing is to connect as many Ghanaians and as many Africans as possible with high-quality connectivity. Beyond 2030, we are thinking in ten-year cycles about opportunities where digital infrastructure services can benefit millions of Africans and improve the quality of their lives,” he explained.
Building Africa’s digital economy
Mupita said MTN’s investments in towers, sites, and radio technologies are laying the foundation for Africa’s digital economy.
“We are building the infrastructure economy—the sites, towers, and radios that allow people to have 3G and 4G connectivity—and then putting services on top of that. That gives us energy as a business because when you see the impact on people’s lives, it gives you energy back,” he said.
He pointed out that MTN foresees a significant increase in transaction volumes and value across its markets as more people come online.
“We are going to put forward a strategy to meet these needs, and the roadmap for that is Ambition 2025. The aspirations we set have largely been achieved, but the demand has only gone up. That is why we are looking beyond 2025 with a focus on the next wave of opportunities,” he said.
Affordable, high-quality services
Addressing concerns about service quality and affordability, Mupita said MTN takes seriously the legitimate expectations of customers.
“It is very legitimate for people to say they want better services, affordable pricing, and so forth. What we need to do as MTN is to arrange all of that smartly so that everyday customers can access our services while we continue to invest the capital needed to deliver them,” he said.
Mupita explained that the evolution of mobile technology will help reduce costs and improve quality.
“As we sunset 2G and 3G over time, and expand 4G and 5G, the cost of operation will come down. Next-generation technologies are more efficient, delivering better quality at lower costs, which ultimately allows operators to reduce prices for customers,” he said.
Reflecting on Africa’s youth and the continent’s digital future, Mupita said MTN is mindful of the opportunities ahead in areas such as gaming, entertainment, and fintech.
“The youth are spending a lot of time in digital spaces like gaming. It’s an exciting time. But we also need to think ahead—not just three to five years out, but ten years and beyond. We must ensure Africa’s digital economy continues to grow in ways that uplift lives,” he said.
The MTN CEO concluded that while the company has achieved much, “there is still so much more to be done” in expanding access, deepening financial inclusion, and connecting every African to the digital future.
