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| MTN Ghana |
MTN Ghana, the leading telecommunications provider in Ghana, has announced a scheduled system upgrade for its Mobile Money (MoMo) platform, set to take place on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
The upgrade will result in a six-hour nationwide outage, affecting all MoMo services from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
This planned downtime will impact millions of users who rely on MoMo for deposits, withdrawals, transfers, merchant payments, and bill payments, as the platform undergoes critical enhancements to improve performance and security.
Purpose of the Upgrade
The system upgrade is designed to enhance the MoMo platform’s efficiency, security, and scalability. According to Charles Asamoah Assah, Chief Technology & Service Delivery Officer at Mobile Money Limited, the maintenance is essential to ensure a seamless user experience and to strengthen the platform against fraud.
“This upgrade is to improve our services to you.
We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding,” Assah stated in an interview with Citi FM.
The enhancements are expected to deliver faster transaction processing, improved reliability, and a foundation for future digital innovations in Ghana’s rapidly growing mobile payments market.
Impact on Users
During the six-hour maintenance window, all MoMo-related services will be unavailable.
This includes:
Sending or receiving money
Making deposits or withdrawals
Paying bills
Transferring funds between wallets and bank accounts
Merchant payments
With over 14 million active users, MTN MoMo is a cornerstone of financial inclusion in Ghana, processing billions of cedis in transactions monthly.
The temporary suspension is likely to disrupt daily economic activities for individuals and businesses alike, particularly those who depend on MoMo as their primary financial tool.
MTN has urged customers to plan ahead and complete any urgent transactions before the outage begins at midnight on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Customer Assurance and Recommendations
MTN Ghana has assured users that their funds will remain secure during the maintenance period and that services will resume promptly at 6:00 a.m. on August 17.
The company emphasized that this upgrade is part of its ongoing commitment to improving digital infrastructure in response to the increasing demand for mobile financial services.
To minimize inconvenience, MTN recommends that customers:
Complete all urgent transactions before 12:00 a.m. on August 17.
Use alternative payment methods, such as bank cards or other mobile money platforms, during the downtime.
Stay updated via MTN’s official communication channels for any changes to the schedule.
Context and Significance
MTN MoMo’s dominance in Ghana’s mobile money market underscores the importance of this upgrade.
Posts on X reflect ongoing user discussions about the platform’s usability, with some expressing frustration over certain features compared to competitors like Airtel.
However, MTN’s market share in mobile data (78.9%) and voice (73.9%) as of April 2025 highlights its critical role in the country’s telecommunications and financial ecosystems.
This upgrade follows a series of strategic moves by MTN, including a reported $2 million sponsorship deal for the Black Stars and efforts to separate its fintech operations from its telecom business.
The August 17 outage is not the first instance of maintenance for MoMo. Previous upgrades have resulted in noticeable improvements in transaction speeds and platform stability, and MTN expects similar outcomes from this exercise.
As competition in Ghana’s mobile payments sector intensifies, these enhancements are crucial for maintaining MoMo’s position as the market leader.
Conclusion
The six-hour nationwide outage of MTN MoMo services on August 17, 2025, is a proactive step by MTN Ghana to ensure the platform remains robust, secure, and ready for future growth.
While the temporary disruption may inconvenience users, the anticipated improvements in performance and security are expected to enhance the overall MoMo experience.
Customers are encouraged to plan accordingly and stay informed as MTN continues to invest in its digital infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of Ghana’s mobile money users.