Abena Osei-Asare and Samuel Nartey George
A heated exchange erupted at Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting yesterday between the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and the Committee Chairperson, Abena Osei-Asare, over poor telecommunications services in the country.
The confrontation occurred during discussions on the quality of services being delivered by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), with the Minister attributing the persistent challenges to policy failures and weak leadership under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
According to Mr. George, inadequate regulatory decisions over the years allowed telecom companies to prioritise profits at the expense of consumers.
“Private businesses are about making profits, and those profits they paid to you over eight years at the Finance Ministry as corporate taxes,” he said while responding to concerns raised by the Committee Chairperson, who previously served as a Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.
“Policy decision and policy leadership ought to make sure that we take steps to protect the customer. I am saying that under this reset agenda and under a responsible government, we have done so,” he added.
His comments, however, drew an immediate reaction from Mrs. Osei-Asare, who interrupted proceedings and urged the Minister to avoid comments she considered offensive and concentrate on the issue before the Committee.
“I am not heckling you, but we beg you, just go straight to the point,” she stated.
The interruption triggered a sharp response from Sam George, who appealed to the Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, who was presiding over the sitting, to call the Chairperson to order.
Describing her conduct as ‘disruptive’, Mr. George accused the Chairperson of attempting to derail his submission.
“This is unbecoming of a Member of Parliament, please stop doing this. You have asked a question, I have the floor, you will let me answer the question. Let me finish. If it is your committee then don’t invite us. Respectfully, let me land,” he said.
Mrs. Osei-Asare, however, defended her intervention, insisting that her intention was to ensure focus and seriousness during the proceedings rather than undermine the Minister.
“When you come here and we address issues, it is not that we want to talk anybody down, never. But Minister, the situation is serious and that is all the sentiments I am trying to put across,” she explained.
The exchange briefly disrupted proceedings before calm was restored for the sitting to continue.
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