CLAIM: Ghana and Burkina Faso Sign Free Mobile Calls Agreement
An X user @Joe_Bassey, claims Ghana and Burkina Faso have signed an agreement that allows citizens of both countries to receive calls for free from each other. The post an image of Ibrahim Traore and the President of Ghana in a handshake, with the caption “Ghana 🇬🇠and Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 sign agreement to allow citizens of both countries to receive calls for free.”
When this report was published, this claim had over 26,000 views and about 2,700 replies, reposts, quotes, likes and bookmarks. In the comment @SelbyNhleko wrote “This is called Pan Africanism not this nonsense that its done by Zimbabweans, Mozambicans,Basotho and Nigerians in South Africa. Shouting 1 Africa in South Africa.” and @The_Ijele said “This is the energy we need—real collaboration that actually improves lives. When African nations work together, everybody wins. More of this!”
VERIFICATION
A fact check on the image used in the claims reveal that the image first appeared online 11 months ago in a report about bilateral agreement between Ghana and Burkina Faso.
On November 21, 2025 the National Communications Authority of Ghana, NCA, and Burkina Faso’s regulator Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, ARCEP, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on free roaming during Digital Week in Ouagadougou. The MoU establishes a framework for technical and regulatory cooperation so mobile subscribers crossing the border on each side can make and receive calls, send SMS, and use data services without the usual additional roaming charges.
The digital week was held from November 18-21, 2025, with this year’s event centered on how artificial intelligence can support Burkina Faso’s digital transition. This MoU establishes the framework for technical and regulatory collaboration, paving the way for seamless mobile communication across borders.
This agreement is meant for people who travel across the two countries. It does not apply to people who stay at home. What this implies is that if someone from Ghana enters Burkina Faso, or someone from Burkina Faso travels to Ghana, they can use their phone almost the same way they use it at home. They will pay local-like rates and will not be charged extra for receiving calls while they are inside the other country.
The free incoming calls only apply when the person is physically in the other country, not when they are calling from home to someone across the border. According to Techlabari, there is a phased timeline for this MoU in alignment with regional initiatives to reduce roaming in West Africa. However, this current benefit applies when a subscriber is physically in the other country and not to regular cross-border calls made from one home country to the other.
CONCLUSION
The claim that Ghana and Burkina Faso signed an agreement that allows citizens of both countries to receive calls for free is MISLEADING. Ghana and Burkina Faso have indeed signed a free roaming agreement, but its benefits apply only to travellers moving between the two countries. It does not make all cross-border calls free for citizens who remain in their home country.
