Claim: The NPP presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, at a youth engagement event dubbed “Bawumia speaks on jobs for the youth,” claimed that Ghana’s internet penetration had grown from 34% in 2017 to around 70% in 2023.
Verdict: Misleading! DUBAWA’s investigation shows that DataReportal and Statista reported internet usage in 2017, projected to rise to about 69% in 2023, not 35% in 2017, to 70% in 2023, as the Vice President purported.
Full Text
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia stated at a youth engagement event on Nov. 3, 2024, dubbed “Bawumia speaks on jobs for the youth,” Ghana has experienced significant growth in internet penetration since his government assumed power in 2017.
“When we came into office, internet penetration was 34 per cent. And now we have increased it to 70 per cent as of 2023. So most advanced countries are above just 90 per cent.”
Ghana’s internet landscape has grown significantly over the past several years, influenced by government initiatives, private sector investment, and technological advancements. Dr Bawumia’s claim highlights the perceived progress in internet penetration and plans to achieve nearly universal internet access.
“So the task in the next four years is to move from some 72 per cent to over 90 per cent as exists in advanced countries. And I want to make sure everyone has access to the Internet at affordable prices. It is possible.”
The relevant portion of the video can be found between 1:45:06 and 1:45:50.
DUBAWA has fact-checked the figures the Vice President asserted to ensure that all data presented to Ghanaians during election season is accurate.
Verification
1. Internet Penetration in 2017
The Vice President claimed that Ghana started with an internet penetration rate of 34% in 2017, yet multiple reliable sources contradict this claim. According to DataReportal and Statista, Ghana’s internet penetration rate in January 2017 was 28%. This overstates the starting figure by about six percentage points, creating a misleading impression of the baseline level of connectivity at that time.
2. Internet Penetration Growth to 2023
The presidential candidate’s claim that internet penetration had reached around 70% by 2023 aligns with DataReportal’s 68.2% penetration rate in January 2023. Statista also supports this figure, showing an increase from roughly 68% in early 2023 to 69.8% in January 2024.
This increase highlights significant investment in infrastructure and the expansion of mobile broadband networks.
However, it is worth noting that the penetration was slightly below the 70% mark in 2023, as claimed, though very close.
From 2017 to 2024, penetration increased by over 40 percentage points, suggesting that reaching 90% may be within reach if investment in digital infrastructure remains strong and technological solutions, like satellite internet, are implemented in underserved regions.
However, this will depend on continued infrastructure development and policies that foster affordable and widespread access.
Affordability is a critical issue for expanding internet access, with many Ghanaians still facing high data costs. Reaching 90% penetration will likely need policies to reduce internet costs and enhance rural connectivity, where infrastructure gaps are most pronounced. These factors complicate the candidate’s target, and they are notably absent from the initial claim.
Conclusion
Bawumia’s statement is misleading because of overstated figures for the starting rate in 2017 (28%, not 34%) and the 2023 figure (just under 70%). While internet penetration has grown substantially, the actual numbers differ from those cited.
