Airtime, data sales to halt for 4 hours on January 2, 2026, as MTN preps for new VAT tariffs

MTN Ghana has notified its customers of an essential service interruption early in the new year, linking the planned downtime directly to upcoming changes in national tax policy.

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In a public announcement, the telecommunications giant stated that "there is a scheduled maintenance planned for January 2, 2026, from 12:00am to 04:00am in preparation for the new VAT reform tariffs." The company explicitly warned that "during this period, airtime and data bundle purchases will not be possible."

The four-hour overnight maintenance window will temporarily suspend all recharge and data purchase channels, impacting customers who rely on late-night or early-morning top-ups. The advisory did not specify whether other services, such as voice calls, mobile money transactions, or internet usage for existing bundles, would be affected during the maintenance period.

MTN Ghana expressed regret for the anticipated disruption, stating, "We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding." The announcement was signed off with the company’s iconic tagline, "everywhere you go."

This proactive system update is aimed at ensuring MTN's billing and sales platforms are fully compliant and operational ahead of the implementation of the revised Value Added Tax regulations, which are set to affect pricing structures across various services in the country.

Customers are advised to purchase any required airtime or data bundles before the midnight commencement on January 2 to avoid disruption during the maintenance interval.