Ghana Explores Smartphone Assembly Project with Huawei

The government of Ghana is discussing plans with Chinese technology firm Huawei to establish a digital device assembly plant in the country. The goal is to make affordable smartphones available to Ghanaian consumers and nearby markets.

The discussions took place during the Mobile World Congress held this week in Barcelona. Ghanaian officials say the proposal is linked to a program led by the GSM Association (GSMA). The initiative involves several African telecom operators and seven original equipment manufacturers. It aims to introduce smartphones priced at around $40 to African markets.

Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Digital Technologies and Innovation, said Ghana has submitted a proposal to the GSMA. The plan would allow countries to apply directly to participating manufacturers. Those manufacturers would then decide where to locate assembly plants. Their decisions would depend on the economic and regulatory advantages offered by each country.

The minister said Ghana could be a suitable location for such a project. He cited the country’s political stability and its role as a gateway to West Africa. He also pointed to Ghana’s expanding economy, industrial free zones, and policies that allow multinational firms to repatriate profits.

Expanding Access to Digital Services

Authorities believe a local assembly plant could lower smartphone prices. Cheaper devices could expand access to mobile broadband and digital services.

Smartphone affordability remains a major barrier to internet adoption in Africa. This is true even in areas where network coverage already exists. According to the GSMA, smartphones priced below $100 have entered the market in recent years. However, they remain out of reach for many consumers.

George said a local assembly plant could help address this problem. Affordable devices would allow more users to access smartphones compatible with 4G and even 5G networks. This could narrow the gap between network coverage and actual usage.

In Ghana, 4G coverage exceeds 90% of the population. Yet fewer than 60% of users actively use those networks. Many people still rely on basic mobile phones that cannot access high speed data. According to World Bank data, smartphone ownership among Ghanaians aged 15 and older stands at about 53%.

Similar conditions exist across other West African markets. Affordable devices could expand smartphone adoption in these countries.

Across Africa, 4G accounted for about 45% of mobile connections in 2024. 5G represented only around 2%, according to the GSMA. By 2030 those shares are expected to reach roughly 54% and 21%.

In neighbouring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, smartphone penetration ranges between 18% and 48%.

Challenges and Market Uncertainty

The timeline for building the assembly plant remains unclear. George said discussions with Huawei have made “significant progress.” The GSMA’s $40 smartphone program will first launch pilot projects in six countries. These include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Questions also remain about the devices that would be produced locally. It is not yet clear whether Huawei would assemble existing models or develop new devices for African markets. The GSMA has defined quality standards for the program. However, manufacturer implementation and consumer perception will remain critical.

Kenya’s experience illustrates the challenge. The government there partnered with private companies to assemble smartphones locally. Adoption of these devices has remained limited, according to a GSMA report published in October 2025.

The report found that many consumers prefer established brands. These include Infinix, Itel, Redmi and Vivo. All are active in the low cost smartphone segment.

According to the GSMA, local manufacturing programs must build strong brand recognition. They must also earn consumer trust in order to compete effectively in the market.

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