MTN Ghana’s CEO, Stephen Blewett, has defended the company against allegations of data theft amidst concerns over rapid data depletion.
These complaints, particularly prevalent in Nigeria, have prompted subscribers to seek investigations from regulatory bodies like the NCC and FCCPC.
Blewett, speaking at MTN House in Accra, refuted the accusations, stating that such claims have been a constant in his telecom career.
“I’ve heard ‘You’re stealing my data’ in every country I’ve worked—not just at MTN,” he said.
He also stressed that MTN, along with other telecom operators, does not have any incentive to steal customer data.
“I swear to God as my witness: we have no reason to steal your data,” Blewett emphasized, seeking to dispel the accusations.
He further explained that such actions would be financially counterproductive, as his personal bonus is tied to MTN’s declared revenue.
“If I steal data, I can’t report it—I’d lose my bonus,” Blewett noted, making it clear that there is no financial gain from such practices.
Blewett attributed the rapid depletion of data to changes in network technology and customer behavior, particularly the shift from 3G and 4G networks to 5G, as well as the increasing use of video streaming.
“The increased usage is due to enhanced networks and the rise in video streaming,” he explained.
According to him, these factors are the primary reasons behind the high data consumption, not any deliberate tampering by MTN or other operators.
He reassured customers that the company has no reason to engage in such practices and remains focused on improving network performance to meet the growing demands of subscribers.
