The Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Communications, Sylvester Tetteh, says that the Committee will summon the Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, when Parliament resumes from recess.
The comment comes as questions are raised about how a company that supposedly registered its activities recently got a ten-year exclusivity contract from the government last year.
Here are details of the contract:
Letter from Communications Ministry to National Communications Authority dated March 11, 2024 states;
== “His Excellency the President granted Executive Approval on 22nd August 2023 for the introduction through the establishment of a neutral, wireless open access network to promote a vibrant telecom market in Ghana”
== “ I ( Ursula Owosu-Ekuful, MP, Minister) reiterate that there will be no auction for 5G Spectrum for the successful implementation of this project to rebalance the industry for the benefit of all consumers. Please proceed to conclude on licensing of the frequencies to Next Gen Infraco.”
Then letter from National Communications Authority to the CEO of Gen Infraco Limited dated the 13th of May, 2024 also states,
==” We refer to your provisional Authorisation letter numbered NCA/ NGICL/WTL/10 and dated 3rd May, 2024 as well as your letter dated 10th May, 2024, respectively on the above subject.
The Above subject being “ RE: PROVISIONAL AUTHORIZATION FOR WHOLESALE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE (TELECOMMUNICATIONS) PROVIDER LICENSE
== “The NCA also confirms that NGICL, shall be given an exclusivity period of ten (10) years as a Provider of the WholeSale 5G Network from the date of execution of the license. NGICL will also have the right to spectrum neutrality for both 4G AND 5G”
Following the release of these details, the Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful addressed the press insisting that NextGen Infraco has proven track record.
Whilst anti-corruption campaigners are raising questions about what the government is saying, the Vice Chairman of the Communications Committee of Parliament says that the circumstances and the information the government had justifies its decision to go with Next Gen Infraco.
Speaking in an interview on the Midday News with Beatrice Adu on 3FM, May 30, Mr. Tetteh said the “government made the decision for no auction because this is a special purpose vehicle. So the issue of procurement does not come in.”
He also said that the Minister will be dragged before Parliament to properly brief the house on the contract awarded Next Gen Infraco.
“…..we are aware of the process but the details as it is now, the committee has not been briefed. We will summon the Minister before Parliament to properly brief us when we reconvene,” he said.
Parliament is expected to resume from recess on June 11, 2024
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