Mahama Ayariga files RTI to communications minister on Next-Gen InfraCo deal

The Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication, Mahama Ayariga, has formally submitted a request for information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

His inquiry focuses on the Next-Generation Infrastructure Company (Next-Gen InfraCo) deal, which has faced increased scrutiny regarding its implications for the telecommunications sector in Ghana.

Ayariga’s request comes in response to growing public concerns about the transparency of government contracts and their impacts on service delivery and competition within the industry.

He is seeking specific information, including the full contractual agreement between the government and Next-Gen InfraCo, the deal’s terms, and any financial implications for the state.

He also emphasised that such agreements should not be limited to verbal statements and must be made available to his office for proper review.

Expressing his apprehension, Mahama Ayariga noted that the lack of accessible information surrounding the deal could impede public scrutiny and understanding of its alignment with national interests.

He called for accountability, particularly amid allegations that the agreement may disproportionately benefit certain private interests at the expense of the public.

"On Thursday 30th May 2024 your good self briefed the world on the deployment of 5G telecommunications technology in Ghana. This letter requests certain information from you pursuant to the Right to Information Act of Ghana.

"Since your briefing, I have been reassigned to the office of Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication. I have not sited any of the documents mentioned in your briefing, hence this request," an excerpt of his petition said.

The government had recently announced a partnership with seven industry leaders to establish a new shared infrastructure designed to provide affordable 5G mobile broadband services throughout Ghana.

The partners in this initiative include Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, along with two telecommunications firms, AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana. Together, they have formed the Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC), which has been granted a 5G license.

NGIC is poised to launch 5G services across Ghana within six months, with plans to expand into other parts of Africa.

The government stated that NGIC will be the first entity to construct a nationwide 4G/5G network and will collaborate with telecommunications companies to introduce affordable 4G/5G-enabled fixed wireless access (FWA) devices and smartphones this year.

The partnership aims to enhance the lives of Ghanaians by delivering digital services across education, healthcare, and financial transactions through peer-to-peer (P2P), peer-to-merchant (P2M), and merchant-to-merchant (M2M) systems.

This initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide and promote financial inclusion. Additionally, NGIC plans to leverage India’s successful model of affordable handsets, digital platforms, and localized content to replicate this high-speed mobile data approach across Africa, starting with Ghana.



AE