MTN Ghana has announced a short nationwide service interruption as it prepares its billing systems for the implementation of new National Value Added Tax (VAT) reforms set to take effect at the start of 2026.
When the Downtime Will Occur
• Date: Friday, January 2, 2026
• Time: 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
• MTN says the early-morning window was selected to limit the impact on business and daytime users.
Reason for the Interruption
The telecoms provider explained that the maintenance is necessary to align its digital and billing infrastructure with revised VAT tariffs recently approved by government. The reforms adjust how VAT is applied to telecommunications and other digital services as part of broader revenue and compliance measures.
During the four-hour upgrade period:
• Customers will not be able to buy airtime or data bundles.
• All recharge channels will be unavailable, including:
• Mobile Money top-ups via *170#
• The myMTN App
• Electronic Voucher Distributors
• Third-party banking and payment apps
MTN noted that existing voice calls and active data bundles are not expected to be disconnected, but:
• Real-time balance updates may be delayed
• Automated bundle renewals, including Mashup services, could be temporarily suspended
To avoid inconvenience, MTN advised subscribers to:
• Purchase airtime and data before midnight on January 2
• Ensure they have sufficient balances to last through the early morning hours
• Make advance arrangements for dependants or emergency needs during the downtime
What Happens After
MTN says all services should be fully restored by 4:00 a.m., after which transactions will resume normally under the new VAT pricing structure.
Company Assurance
The company apologised for any inconvenience, particularly to night workers, travellers, and early-morning commuters, and thanked customers for their patience as it completes what it described as a necessary upgrade to ensure full compliance with the new tax framework.
Source: Africa Publicity
