The Minority in Parliament has strongly opposed the Next Gen Infraco 5G deal, calling it “inimical to the national interest.”
On May 30th, the government announced plans to launch the 5G Network within the next six months. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, explained why the government chose to give the 5G licensing contract to NextGen InfraCo, a company that was created just a week before the contract was approved.
The Ablekuma West MP said that NextGen InfraCo was made specifically to handle the 5G rollout. She pointed out that no other company could manage the rollout at that time.
The minister also said that giving the contract directly to this new company is a strategic move by the government to avoid past problems and speed up the deployment of the 5G network in Ghana.
However, the Minority, in a statement signed and released by its leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, argued that the deal was bad for the country.
“After a preliminary study of the processes leading to this opaque transaction, the Minority Caucus takes the view that the Next Gen Infraco 5G deal is inimical to the national interest,” he stated.
He said this was because the deal did not give good value for money, gave an unfair monopoly and exclusivity, and was not approved by Parliament.
He stated that at a time when the country desperately needs foreign exchange and non-tax revenue, it is unacceptable for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to give the country’s valuable and highly sought-after 5G spectrum to a shell company for a small amount of money.
“Clearly, this deal for all intents and purposes is inimical to our national interest,” he reiterated.
Dr Forson said that the minority has marked the transaction for a thorough investigation.
“In the coming days, we shall be addressing the media and, by extension, the Ghanaian people on these vexed matters and collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure that our national interest is upheld,” he added.
