The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the government’s decision to approve a takeover of state-owned telecom company AT (formerly AirtelTigo) by Telecel Group, alleging that the transaction lacks transparency and could undermine national interests.
At a press conference on Wednesday (15 October) the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs on the Communications Committee, led by Ranking Member Matthew Nyindam, accused the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation Samuel George, of rejecting a higher investment offer from Rektron/Afritel in favour of what they described as a “less transparent and questionable” merger with Telecel.
“The minister’s management of this transaction lacks transparency and proper direction. It is riddled with inconsistencies and self-interest, and risks handing over a critical national asset to a private foreign company without accountability,” Nyindam told reporters in Accra.
According to the Minority, Rektron/Afritel proposed an initial capital injection of $150 million and a long-term investment plan worth up to $1 billion to expand AT’s network and upgrade its 4G and 5G infrastructure.
They claimed the minister instead backed a Telecel deal valued at just $50 million.
“How does one reject a $150 million investment proposal with a billion-dollar expansion plan for a deal that brings only $50 million to the table?” Nyindam asked.
Lapses
The opposition also accused the minister of financial mismanagement, alleging a $5 million payment default to American Tower Company (ATC), a key service provider to AT.
The lapse, they said, led to service disruptions and an estimated GHS 7 million in lost revenue last month.
The lawmakers further claimed that the minister had deleted official posts announcing the Telecel merger after public backlash, deepening suspicions about the deal’s transparency.
“Why announce a merger publicly only to pull it down later? The secrecy and confusion surrounding this deal raise legitimate concerns about what the minister is hiding,” Nyindam said.
Threats
The Minority warned that the merger could threaten jobs and weaken competition in Ghana’s telecom sector, noting that Telecel has yet to fulfill its previous $500 million investment pledge following its acquisition of Vodafone Ghana.
“AT is a strategic national asset that must be safeguarded. We cannot allow a deal that jeopardises 300 employees, 200 contract staff, and over 10,000 indirect jobs,” Nyindam said.
The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.
Source: asaaseradio.com
