ACTION REQUIRED: MTN Ghana Jan 2 “Sales Blackout is Coming—Don’t Get Stranded!

MTN Ghana has officially confirmed a 4-hour system-wide blackout on all airtime and data bundle purchases scheduled for the early hours of Friday, January 2, 2026.

This is not a regular update; it is a critical technical overhaul to prepare for the government’s new VAT reform tariffs. To ensure you are not left without connectivity during this window, you must act before the midnight deadline.

The Critical Countdown

• Maintenance Window: 12:00 am to 04:00 am.
• Total Blackout Period: 4 Hours.
• Deadline for Action: 11:30 pm on Thursday, January 1.

What Will Stop Working?

During these four hours, you will be unable to buy airtime or data through any of these channels:

• Mobile Money (*170#) Top-ups.
• myMTN App Purchases.
• Third-party Banking Apps.
• Electronic Voucher Distributors (EVD/Retailers).

Your “Avoid Inconvenience” Checklist – MTN Ghana Jan 2 maintenance action tips

To stay connected, every MTN user should complete these three urgent steps before midnight tonight:

1. Advance Purchase: Buy enough airtime and data bundles right now to last you until at least 5:00 am on Friday morning.
2. Withdraw Emergency Cash: Since Mobile Money recharge services will be suspended, withdraw any cash you might need for overnight travel or emergencies before 11:59 pm.
3. Handle Dependents: If you have children, students, or elderly relatives who rely on you for airtime or data “gifts,” send those top-ups immediately.

Will You Lose Existing Service?

The good news is that voice calls and existing data bundles are expected to remain functional if you have a balance before the maintenance starts. However, you will not be able to check real-time balances or use Mashup renewals until the systems are restored at 4:00 am.

MTN Ghana has expressed regret for the disruption, noting that this update is mandatory to ensure all billing correctly reflects the revised statutory VAT levies. We hope these MTN Ghana Jan 2 maintenance action tips were useful.