Mr. Mahama Ayariga, the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication and MP for Bawku Central in the Upper East Region, has officially submitted a Right to Information (RTI) request for full disclosure regarding the Next-Generation Infrastructure Company (Next-Gen InfraCo) deal signed by Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
This request arises amid growing demands for transparency in government contracts, particularly those that may influence competition and service delivery in key sectors like telecommunications. Mahama Ayariga is seeking the complete contractual agreement, the terms of the deal, and an overview of any financial obligations the government may have incurred.
In his request, Mahama Ayariga highlighted a statement from Owusu-Ekuful, who announced the deal was signed in Mumbai, India, on May 27, 2024, following a two-year negotiation process. He emphasized the need for access to the partnership agreement to ensure that Ghanaians engaged in the telecommunications sector are fully informed.
In March 2024, Owusu-Ekuful revealed that the Next-Gen InfraCo deal aims to provide 5G internet connectivity in Ghana by September 2024, in collaboration with partners including Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, and Tech Mahindra, with support from all mobile network operators in Ghana, starting with AT and Telecel. However, Mahama Ayariga pointed out that the specifics of the agreement have yet to be disclosed to the public.
Below is the full statement:
HON. MRS URSULA OWUSU-EKUFUL,
MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITALISATION,
ACCRA, GHANA.
Honourable Minister,
YOUR BRIEFING ON 5G DEPLOYMENT IN GHANA AND MATTERS ARISING
On Thursday 30th May, 2024 your good-self briefed the world on the deployment of 5G telecommunications technology in Ghana. This letter requests certain information from you pursuant to the Right to Information Act of Ghana.
Since your briefing, I have been reassigned to the office of Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication. I have not sited any of the documents mentioned in your briefing hence this request.
1. At your Ministerial briefing on Thursday 30th May 2024 you stated that “The Government of Ghana, in collaboration with Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, and Tech Mahindra, supported by All Mobile Network Operators in Ghana, starting with AT and Telecel, has launched the Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC). This initiative aims to deliver affordable 5G mobile broadband services across our nation, propelling us towards a fully digitized Ghana by 2030.” Please furnish me with the collaboration agreement or any other agreement entered into or in this regard because I do not believe that such a significant agreement could just be verbal or pronounced by your good-self no matter how exalted you may be.
2. You also mentioned at the briefing that “I am pleased to inform you that this landmark partnership was signed in Mumbai, India, on Monday, 27th May 2024, the culmination of a process which started over 2 years ago.” Kindly furnish me with a copy of the landmark partnership agreement for our review and understanding of the exact commitments of each of the partners since Ghanaians interested in the telecommunications sector cannot be groping in the dark. Transparency is key.
3. At the briefing, you stated that “The Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC) is a new shared infrastructure company, co-promoted by the Government of Ghana, Ascend Digital, and K-NET. This partnership includes leading technology providers Nokia, Radisys and Tech Mahindra.” Kindly furnish my office with documents establishing the existence of NGIC, profile of its shareholders and management, evidence of their financial and technical capabilities, specific role of the Government of Ghana (including any obligations it will assume) and the commitments made by each of the partners for the purposes of establishing that the Government of Ghana indeed has credible partners in such a significant project.
4. You said that “NGIC has been awarded a 5G license and is expected to launch 5G services across Ghana within the next six months, with plans for future expansion into other parts of Africa.” Whilst congratulating NGIC, can you please furnish my office with a copy of the 5G license and any other conditions or terms of the 5G license if not included in the licence for my review. Also provide evidence of the analysis done to determine the price of the 5G spectrum given to NGIC and payment by NGIC for the 5G licence.
5. You also said “Discussions will soon be finalised with Microsoft, which has expressed an interest in this project. NGIC’s equity will be held by the Republic of Ghana, Ascend Digital, K-NET, all Mobile Network Operators in Ghana and other investors including the technology providers who may wish to join the consortium.” Kindly include in your response the update on any conclusions with Microsoft, the present equity holdings of Ascend Digital, K-NET and all the Mobile Network Operators who you expected to take up interests and exactly what interests they have all acquired and/or role they are playing in the transaction.
6. You said “The shared 4G and 5G infrastructure will be built by Nokia and Radisys, with IT architecture and integration provided by Microsoft and Tech Mahindra. This collaboration ensures that we leverage cutting-edge world-class expertise and technology to build a robust digital infrastructure.” Can you update me on the level of development of the infrastructure and by who?
7. You said “NGIC will enable a reset of Ghana’s economy by attracting investments across all sectors and providing access to all manner of e-services and improve the quality of life for all Ghanaians by ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to the latest digital services.” Please furnish me with the business case for 5G including the use cases for Ghana and your Ministry’s/Government of Ghana’s plans to promote 5G adoption to ensure the project succeeds. Also, thank you for acknowledging that Ghana’s economy will require a “reset” instead of an “upgrade”. God bless you for being honest in this regard.
8. Please send me a copy of the legal opinion supporting the manner of appointment of NGIC to undertake the 5G project, the award of the 4G/5G spectrum and structure of the project.
9. Lastly, you announced that the deployment will take place in the last quarter of 2024. Please update me on the status of deployment and your implementation plan for this year and beyond.
Also, confirm when the project will be launched.
The answers to these questions have become necessary in the interest of transparency and to enable me exercise my oversight responsibilities.
Please accept considerations of my highest regards.
Thank you.
Mahama Ayariga, MP.
Ranking Member on the Select Committee on Information and Communications
CC: Chief Executive Officer
National Communications Authority
Accra
All Honourable Members:
Parliamentary Select Committee, Information and Communication.
Source: DEW360.NET
JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL:
