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Investigative journalist\u00a0Manasseh Azure Awuni\u00a0has raised questions about the government\u2019s decision to award a contract to Next Gen Infraco Ltd. to roll out Ghana\u2019s 5G infrastructure project.<\/p>\n In a post shared on X by the journalist, who attached some documents relevant to the transaction, said President Akufo-Addo granted executive approval on August 22, 2023, just a week after Next Gen Infraco Ltd was formed.<\/p>\n He questions why there was no competitive bidding before the contract was awarded, demanding transparency and fairness in the contract for the 5G project, which is set to be rolled out within six months.<\/p>\n \u201cThe company that has been handed the deal was formed less than a week before the president\u2019s approval. The 5G technology, according to industry experts, can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Why is it being handed to one company without an auction? Why were different companies not allowed to bid for the contract?,\u201d Awuni wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is the track record of a company that was formed less than a week before the president approved the deal? What is the relationship between this company and Smart Infraco?,\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation\u00a0Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who confirmed the transaction on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at a press briefing in Accra justified the decision to award Next Gen Infraco Ltd. with the contract.<\/p>\n She explained that the company was specifically established to undertake the 5G rollout, adding that no related infrastructure company, at the time the contract was handed out, had the capacity to manage the roll-out of the 5G network services.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, it had to be specifically formed for the purpose of delivering this service based on the strategic policies and decisions of the government, and it is borne out of our experiences, and that is why we chose not to auction it,\u201d the minister explained.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a special purpose vehicle, and once the government took the decision that we will use a neutral infrastructure company to deliver this service, there is no existing neutral infrastructure company that can deliver it at the moment,\u201d\u00a0Ursula Owusu-Ekuful\u00a0added.<\/p>\n President Akufo-Akufo-Addo “granted Executive Approval on 22nd August 2023”. \u2014 Manasseh Azure Awuni (@Manasseh_Azure) May 30, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n President Akufo-Akufo-Addo “granted Executive Approval on 22nd August 2023”. \u2014 Manasseh Azure Awuni (@Manasseh_Azure) May 30, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Source: www.ghanaweb.com<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n\n
The company handed the deal was formed less than a week before the president’s approval.
The 5G technology, according to industry experts can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. pic.twitter.com\/2YPkxvVkRw<\/a><\/p>\n\n
The company handed the deal was formed less than a week before the president’s approval.
The 5G technology, according to industry experts can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. pic.twitter.com\/2YPkxvVkRw<\/a><\/p>\n