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The Member of Parliament for Hohoe, Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, who is also ranking member on the communications committee of parliament, has accused the Minority of pledging falsehoods around the AT-Telecel sale deal.
The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the proposed Telecel takeover of AT (formerly AirtelTigo), accusing the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Samuel George, of rejecting a US$150 million investment bid from Rektron/Afritel in favour of what they describe as a “less transparent and questionable” merger deal.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, October 15, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, said the minister’s handling of the transaction was marked by secrecy, inconsistencies, and conflict of interest, warning that the deal could lead to the collapse of Ghana’s only wholly state-owned telecommunications company.
“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,” Mr Nyindam stated.
According to the Minority, Rektron/Afritel’s proposal offered far more value than the Telecel arrangement.“Rektron’s proposal went beyond the initial US$150 million capital injection, outlining a long-term investment plan of up to US$1 billion to expand AT’s network, modernise infrastructure, and strengthen 4G and 5G capacity over a five-year period,” the group noted.
They explained that the Rektron/Afritel deal also included provisions for technology transfer, local job creation, and greater Ghanaian participation in the telecom value chain.
However, the minister allegedly sidelined the Rektron/Afritel offer and endorsed a Telecel arrangement valued at just US$50 million, a move the Minority said “defies logic.”
“How does one reject a US$150 million investment proposal with a billion-dollar expansion plan for a deal that brings only US$50 million to the table?” Mr Nyindam questioned.
The Minority also accused the minister of causing financial losses to AT through mismanagement and failure to meet key contractual obligations.
“We have established that the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation failed to honour a US$5 million payment commitment to the American Tower Company (ATC), a key service provider to AT,” Mr Nyindam said.
Responding to the Minority, Efo Worlanyo Tsekpo told 3news.com in an interview that “It is very sad to see my senior colleagues in parliament disgrace themselves two days ago. A little patience and research would have solved the problem they have created.
“They made some points are are all false. The first one, according to them, AT customers have been forced into roaming service. The truth of the matter is that AT owes a huge sum of debts to its partners, and within a space of two weeks, they were going to be taken off or disconnected. So the Minister had to come in and then have an agreement with Telecel for them to be moved to Telecel for a period of 120 days. so that by that time the minister and the partners would sit down at a round table and settle the matter. I am a customer of AT, and with that, we have not experienced job loss; there have not been any disruptions of the network because
“They also said the minister has sold AT to Telecel. I am shocked because I am on the same committee with them. If something of that sort had been done, we would have heard it, at least we would be the first port of call as the communication committee members.
“This is the road map they started, a road map that they know. They scrutinised some interested groups that wanted to invest in AT, Most of the groups that were shortlisted left because they knew the debt that was hanging around the neck of AT. It is not something they can deal with.”
