General News of Monday, 28 May 2018
Source: citinewsroom.com
2018-05-28
Franklin Cudjoe, President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana
The president of policy think tank, IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has advised Members of Parliament to ask the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu probing questions on the controversial $89 million Kelni GVG contract when she appears before the House on Tuesday.
According to Mr Cudjoe, the MPs should not allow the Minister to hoodwink them but ask relevant questions including benefits the country will derive from the deal.
“Tuesday when you meet in parliament demand this particular question to be answered: what are we getting in return, don’t let them bamboozle you by saying to you that, they are saving $1.1 million of the previous deal, which was bad according to them,” he said on Citi FM’s analysis program on Saturday.
Last week, Franklin Cudjoe, demanded that the government rescind the $89 million contract between Ghana and a Haitian firm, GVG/Kelni.
IMANI Africa sent a petition to the Vice President to revoke the contract for the design, development and implementation of a common platform for traffic monitoring, revenue assurance and mobile money monitoring.
Mr Cudjoe’s argument is based on the fact companies like Subah Infosolutions, and Afriwave Telcom Ltd are already undertaking the same functions expected of the new firm.
But Deputy Minister of Communications George Andah rubbished the assessment of policy think tank of the contract with KelniGVG for the provision of oversight and revenue assurance monitoring equipment.
The Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu has subsequently been summoned to appear in Parliament next week after IMANI Africa accused the ministry of signing a deal that is a replica the State’s agreements with Subah Infosolutions and Afriwave Telcom Ltd in 2010 and 2016 respectively.
