MTN Ghana (Scancom PLC) Q1 2026 Results

Scancom PLC, the owner of MTN Ghana, has delivered an impressive set of first-quarter results, propelled by a stunning 35.7 per cent surge in service revenue and a radical overhaul of its dividend policy that will see shareholders receive payments every three months going forward.

The telecommunications giant, which completed the structural separation of its mobile money business on March 31, 2026, reported:

• Profit after tax: GH₵2.48 billion (a 46.8 per cent jump YoY).
• Earnings per share: 18.7 pesewas (up from 12.8 pesewas).

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💳 Dividend Policy Overhaul

The headline news for investors is the board’s decision to tear up the old dividend rulebook. MTN Ghana has formally amended its dividend policy to:

• Permit the declaration of interim dividends after each quarterly result.
• Maintain a payout ratio of between 60 and 80 percent of annual profits.

In a groundbreaking move, shareholders will now receive two separate dividend streams:

1. Scancom PLC: Declared a gross interim dividend of 3 pesewas per share.
2. Mobile Money Fintech LTD: Recommended 3 pesewas per share (subject to approval).

• Total potential payout: 6 pesewas per share.

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📈 Operational Highlights & Key Numbers

Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, attributed the performance to disciplined execution and an improved macroeconomic environment (inflation dropped to 3.2 per cent in March).

Revenue Breakdown

• Service Revenue: GHS7.26 billion.
• Data Revenue: GHS4.29 billion (up 52.3 per cent).
• Mobile Money Revenue: GHS1.71 billion (up 28.4 per cent).
• Digital Revenue: GHS170 million (up 107 per cent).

User Metrics

• Active Data Subscribers: 20.6 million (up 16 per cent).
• Data Usage: Nearly 19 gigabytes per month per subscriber (up 40.9 per cent).

Profitability

• EBITDA: GHS4.45 billion (expanded 42.9 per cent).
• EBITDA Margin: 61.2 per cent.

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🏦 Fiscal & Social Responsibility

During the quarter, MTN Ghana contributed significantly to the state and community:

• Taxes Paid: GHS2.8 billion (direct and indirect).
• Government Fees/Levies: GHS92.2 million.
• Capital Expenditure: GHS313.96 million.
• ESG Initiatives: Handed over a GHS15.4 million accident and emergency centre to Ho Teaching Hospital and collected over 7,000 units of blood nationwide.

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📅 Important Dates for Shareholders

For the Q1 dividends, the following timeline applies:

Payments will be transferred electronically to bank accounts or mobile money wallets.

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🔭 Future Outlook

Looking ahead, MTN Ghana maintained its medium-term service revenue growth and margin guidance. However, leadership cautioned that persistent geopolitical tensions and potential knock-on effects on fuel prices and the local economy could force a reassessment in future reporting periods.