The Minority in Parliament has called for a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into the proposed transaction between AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana, citing transparency, value-for-money, and public interest concerns.
Speaking at the press corps gathering in Parliament on Wednesday, 0ctober 15, Member of Parliament for Kpandai, and Ranking Member of the Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, said the Minority is deeply worried about the government’s handling of the deal, describing it as opaque and inconsistent with due process.
Mr. Nyindam noted that AT Ghana, formerly AirtelTigo, is the only fully Ghanaian-owned telecommunications operator and warned that the arrangement with Telecel could undermine national ownership in the sector.
He questioned why the government appeared to have abandoned a previous proposal from Rektron/Afritel, which, according to him, offered an initial US$150 million investment and plans to inject up to US$1 billion over five years. The Telecel proposal, he said, reportedly involves only US$50 million, which he described as inadequate and contrary to the national interest.
The Minority is demanding that the government:
- Immediately suspend any ongoing discussions regarding the transaction.
- Initiate a full parliamentary inquiry into the deal.
- Ensure full disclosure of all agreements, correspondences, and advisory reports related to the transaction.
- Engage tower companies, including American Tower Company (ATC), to resolve AT Ghana’s outstanding debts and restore disrupted services.
Mr. Nyindam further accused the Minister of Communications, Samuel Nartey George, of pursuing a unilateral agenda that could destabilize the telecom sector.
He cautioned that any attempt to disguise the transaction as a merger or acquisition without parliamentary approval would be challenged, adding that a future government would not recognize any such irregular arrangement.
The Minority insists that Parliament must exercise its oversight mandate to safeguard public assets, ensure transparency, and uphold the national interest in Ghana’s telecommunications sector.
