General News of Thursday, 19 July 2018
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2018-07-19
Former President John Kufuor
Former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, has justified his resolve for selling Ghana Telecom, now Vodafone Ghana, to a private company.
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Dinner of Vodafone Ghana, he said his decision was a step in the right direction considering the company’s increased offerings in recent times.
Mr Kufuor said, “There was a lot of criticism when it was decided to give, if you like, the concession to Vodafone; thankfully, within the past ten years I believe by the step we took, has been vindicated with such a panache that now as I sit here I feel a bit like a seer, a prophet.”
In the year 2008, the government under the leadership of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor sold 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom for $900 million to Vodafone – a situation that sparked some agitations from the then opposition parties.
However, the former president has urged Vodafone Ghana to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
He said, “Permit me to suggest that the board and management resolve to offload some of your equity stake in the company to the Ghana Stock Exchange to promote your local content.”
Guest speaker at the launch, Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has reiterated government’s quest to consider payment of salaries via mobile money.
“One of the areas that we have to really push forward in dealing with issues of corruption is to make sure that we make most, if not all, government payments by electronic means; the technology platform is there and so you will see an announcement very soon and we will start just next year,” he said.
He further mentioned that he has challenged the GRA to make it possible for citizens to file their taxes electronically by next year.