The Minority in Parliament has expressed concerns over the government’s decision to grant a 5G licensing contract to Next-Gen InfraCo, a company established a week before receiving the contract.
Under this deal, Next Gen Infraco Limited has been granted exclusive rights to build, own, and operate the entire 5G infrastructure network across the country.
All mobile network operators, internet service providers, and other interested entities will use this network.
After a preliminary review of the processes leading to this transaction, the Minority said the deal lacked transparency and did not serve the country’s best interests.
In a press statement issued on Monday, June 3, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, highlighted similar contracts awarded by the current government that have resulted in a waste of state resources, reinforcing their scepticism about the NextGen InfraCo deal.
“The regulatory framework and operational modalities and guidelines for this opaque arrangement have not been clearly defined by the AkufoAddo/Bawumia government, which appears to be in an indecent haste to give away the country’s 5G spectrum for a pittance.
“The investment that this Consortium is expected to make to justify their humongous 63% stake in Ghana’s 5G network services revenue has also not been clearly defined.
“The NDC Caucus in Parliament holds the view that at a Cme that the country is in dire need of foreign exchange and non-tax revenue, it is unconscionable that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government will hand over the precious and highly sought-after 5G spectrum of the country to a shell company for a pittance.
“Clearly, this deal for all intents and purposes is inimical to our national interest,” portions of their statement read.
It will be recalled that the Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, defended the government’s decision to grant a 5G licensing contract to Next-Gen InfraCo.
Her justification comes amid scrutiny from investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who questioned the timing of the contract awarded to Next-Gen InfraCo Ltd.
In a Facebook post, Mr Awuni pointed out that the company does not have the needed track record as it was incorporated less than a week before President Akufo-Addo granted executive approval for the deal.
According to him, the contract, which experts estimate to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was awarded through sole sourcing without allowing other companies to bid for the project.
Mr Awuni maintained that the lack of competitive bidding raises suspicions about the transparency and fairness of the procurement process.
However, at a press briefing on May 30, 2024, the Communications Minister said the Next-Gen InfraCo was specifically established to handle the deployment of the country’s 5G spectrum because no existing company did so in Ghana.
She further explained that auctioning the contract was not pursued due to previous experiences and setbacks that had hindered the rollout of the country’s 4G technology.
