The Minority in Parliament has strongly opposed moves by the Telecel Group to acquire AT Ghana, describing the transaction as a “scheme to dispose of a strategic national asset through underhand dealings.”
According to the caucus, the process surrounding the purported acquisition lacks transparency, raises conflict of interest concerns, and could jeopardize Ghana’s digital sovereignty and employment in the telecommunications sector.
Addressing the press in Parliament, Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, accused the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, of “questionable conduct” in handling the matter.
He said the Minister’s inconsistent statements and secretive actions have created confusion within the telecom industry and diminished the value of AT, Ghana’s only wholly state-owned telecom operator.
The Minority maintained that the proposed deal with Telecel which involves an announced $50 million investment makes “no economic or operational sense” compared to an earlier $150 million capital proposal from Afritel/Rektron. They insisted that Telecel’s own indebtedness and failure to meet its earlier investment pledges following the Vodafone takeover make it unfit to acquire AT.
Mr. Nyindam further revealed that there were credible allegations linking the Minister to private benefits from the deal, including the use of Telecel to fund local events in his constituency.
The caucus alleged that government and Telecel had both published and later deleted public announcements about the merger due to backlash, describing it as “a deliberate attempt to hide the truth from Ghanaians.”
The Minority has therefore called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately intervene and halt the transaction. They are also demanding a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into the proposed sale, insisting that any agreement made without due diligence, parliamentary approval, or transparency will be revoked by a future government.
The group further warned that the proposed takeover could lead to massive job losses. They argued that AT currently employs over 300 permanent staff, 200 contract workers, and supports more than 10,000 indirect jobs across the country, including vendors, distributors, and mobile money agents who rely on the network for their livelihoods. A merger or acquisition by Telecel, they said, could result in restructuring and render thousands unemployed.
The Minority also highlighted the potential impact of the deal on national digital projects, particularly the World Bank–funded $50 million Digital Infrastructure Venture (DIV) Project, which relies heavily on AT’s network.
They cautioned that the collapse or forced merger of AT could disrupt internet connectivity for over 900 government institutions and service centers, undermining public service delivery nationwide.
Concluding the press conference, the caucus reaffirmed its commitment to defend Ghana’s interest in the telecommunications sector. They stressed that AT’s acquisition was originally meant to preserve jobs, protect national assets, and ensure fair competition, not to benefit foreign entities.
“We will not sit idly by and allow a single minister to unilaterally dispose of a critical national asset,” the Minority said, vowing to resist any move that compromises the country’s economic sovereignty.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
