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Telecommunications giant MTN Ghana has announced a critical system upgrade as the country enters the first week of 2026, aligning its billing and digital infrastructure with the government’s newly approved National Value Added Tax (VAT) reform tariffs.
In a formal advisory to subscribers, the company said the upgrade will require a temporary service interruption in the early hours of Friday, January 2, 2026.
According to MTN, the scheduled maintenance will take place from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., a time window deliberately selected to minimise disruption to daytime commercial activities.
“There is a scheduled maintenance planned for January 2, 2026, from 12:00 am to 04:00 am in preparation for the new VAT reform tariffs,” the company stated.
During the four-hour period, retail transaction platforms will be unavailable, meaning subscribers will be unable to purchase airtime or data bundles across all recharge channels. These include *Mobile Money top-ups via 170#, the myMTN App, Electronic Voucher Distributors, and third-party banking applications.
MTN clarified that while ongoing voice calls and existing data bundles are not expected to be interrupted, real-time balance updates and automated bundle renewals, including Mashup services, may be temporarily suspended until the upgrade is completed.
The system adjustment forms part of broader government efforts to streamline revenue mobilisation and improve compliance in the taxation of digital and telecommunications services. For telecom operators, aligning billing systems with the revised VAT structure is critical to ensuring accurate pricing and regulatory compliance once the new rates take effect.
MTN said the upgrade will ensure that all charges applied on its network from the start of business on January 2 accurately reflect the revised VAT framework.
Acknowledging the inconvenience the maintenance may cause to night-shift workers, travellers, and early-morning commuters, the company appealed for patience and cooperation.
Subscribers have been advised to purchase airtime and data bundles in advance, ensure they have sufficient balances to last through the maintenance window, and make prior arrangements for dependants who may require emergency top-ups during the downtime.
MTN assured customers that full services will be restored by 4:00 a.m., allowing transactions to resume normally under the new VAT regime.
Source: citinews
