South Dayi Member of Parliament Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor has threatened to sue the government over the 5G contract awarded to NextGen InfraCo.
It will be recalled that approval of a 5G service operations was given to NextGen InfraCo on August 22, 2023, less than a week after the company was registered.
NextGen InfraCo, per the documents available was registered on August 16, 2023.
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who uncovered details of the said company also mentioned that the company had been given ten years exclusivity.
However, Communications Minister Ursula Owusu Ekuful said the NextGen InfraCo was specifically established to handle the deployment of the country’s 5G spectrum because no existing company did so in Ghana.
She further explained that auctioning the contract was not pursued due to previous experiences and setbacks that had hindered the rollout of the country’s 4G technology.
“This 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.
“So, 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,” she stated.
The 5G internet service is expected to boost the digital agenda drive in Ghana’s education, healthcare, and digital payment transactions, thereby reducing the digital divide and promoting financial inclusion.
Commenting on the issue on TV3’s Key Points monitored by theghanareport.com, the South Dayi legislator said the contract violates the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, hence his decision injunct the process.
“It is a deliberate creation to break MTN monopoly, the government cannot do this, let the private entities compete among themselves. I am going to challenge the validity of the deal at the Supreme Court.
“You can’t break a monopoly by creating a monopoly, you are depriving other companies from participating in the economic environment. This is a company that is merely on paper, this is an empty company, it is incapable of delivering on this mandate,” he said.