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The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has called on Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, to set up a physical office in Ghana’s capital, Accra, if it wishes to continue operating in the country.
Speaking in an interview with TV3, Sam George expressed dissatisfaction with Starlink’s lack of local presence, despite having been granted regulatory approval by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to provide internet services in Ghana.
“I’ve instructed the regulator to notify Starlink that they must establish an office in Accra. You cannot offer services in Ghana without having a base here,” he said.
He stressed that a local office is essential for effective regulation and consumer protection, adding that the absence of such a presence complicates communication and accountability.
He also criticized the NCA for approving Starlink’s operations without requiring the company to have a local office. “If a Ghanaian consumer has an issue with Starlink, the regulator shouldn’t have to email someone in the U.S. and wait weeks for a response,” he noted.
Mr. George argued that having Starlink’s executives within reach—like other Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Ghana—would allow for faster resolution of problems and better protection for consumers.
Starlink, a division of SpaceX, was officially launched in Ghana in August 2024 and is managed locally by SpaceX Starlink GH LTD. The service relies on a network of over 5,800 low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver high-speed internet, particularly to remote and underserved communities.
