The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has refuted allegations that the telecommunications company is secretly deducting customers’ data, a claim he says has followed him throughout his career in various markets.
The Ghanaian news platform, MyJoyOnline, reported his response on Wednesday.
His remarks come at a time when similar concerns have emerged in Nigeria, where subscribers are voicing frustrations over what they describe as unexplained data depletion.
MTN Nigeria, which serves over 80 million customers, alongside other network providers, is facing scrutiny from consumers who have taken their grievances to regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
A report by The PUNCH on Tuesday highlighted the influx of complaints directed at these agencies, with subscribers demanding an investigation into their data usage.
In response, network operators have dismissed accusations of deliberate data siphoning, instead attributing higher consumption rates to technological advancements.
They argue that as users transition from 3G and 4G to 5G, and as streaming content becomes heavier, data usage naturally increases.
Addressing these concerns at MTN’s headquarters in Accra, Blewett acknowledged the widespread skepticism but insisted the company had no reason to tamper with customers’ data.
“I’ve heard ‘You’re stealing my data’ in every country I’ve worked—not just at MTN,” he stated, drawing from his extensive experience in the industry. He further emphasized, “I swear to God as my witness: we have no reason to steal your data.”
Blewett explained that manipulating data for profit would not benefit the company, pointing out that his earnings are linked to reported revenue.
“If I steal data, I can’t report it—I’d lose my bonus,” he remarked, dismissing suspicions of financial gain from data depletion.
Instead, he attributed the rapid data consumption to improved network quality.
“A better network speeds up data use,” he noted, adding, “YouTube switches to higher resolution on stronger signals—it’s like Pac-Man eating your data. We don’t control that.”
To reinforce MTN’s commitment to transparency, Blewett outlined the company’s audit and oversight measures.
“We’re independently audited—billing errors would fail our financials,” he said, emphasizing that an internal revenue assurance team continually monitors for discrepancies to maintain compliance and prevent any form of incorrect billing.
“We don’t want revenue leaks or incorrect billing,” he concluded, underscoring MTN’s dedication to fair data management despite the ongoing concerns from customers.
