The Minority in Parliament is opposing the proposed takeover of AT (formerly AirtelTigo) by Telecel.
They accuse the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Samuel George, of rejecting a better US$150 million offer from Rektron/Afritel.
The group says the minister chose a “questionable and opaque” deal with Telecel instead, warning that the move could hurt Ghana’s telecom sector and cost local jobs.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, October 15, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, alleged that the minister’s handling of the transaction has been marred by secrecy, inconsistencies, and conflicts of interest, warning that the move could cripple Ghana’s only wholly state-owned telecommunications company.
“The minister’s management of this transaction lacks transparency and proper direction. It is riddled with self-interest and risks handing over a vital national asset to a private foreign company without accountability,” Mr. Nyindam stated.
According to the Minority, Rektron/Afritel’s proposal offered far greater value than the Telecel deal.
The group said the US$150 million bid included a long-term US$1 billion investment plan to expand AT’s network, modernise its infrastructure, and boost 4G and 5G capacity over five years.
The Rektron/Afritel plan, they added, also included commitments to technology transfer, job creation, and stronger local participation in Ghana’s telecom industry.
Despite this, the minister allegedly sidelined Rektron/Afritel’s offer and backed a Telecel proposal worth just US$50 million, a decision the Minority said “defies logic”.
“How does one reject a US$150 million investment with a billion-dollar expansion plan for a deal that brings only US$50 million to the table?” Mr. Nyindam questioned.
The group further accused the minister of mismanaging AT and causing financial losses through his failure to meet key contractual obligations.
“We have confirmed that the Minister failed to honour a US$5 million payment to the American Tower Company (ATC), one of AT’s major service providers.
“This led to the shutdown of several tower sites in September, forcing AT customers to roam on Telecel’s network, resulting in an estimated GH¢7 million loss in revenue within that month alone,” Mr. Nyindam said.
The Minority also criticised the minister for abruptly abandoning the Rektron/Afritel partnership, which had already engaged KPMG as transaction advisors in favour of the Telecel merger, without consultation or clear justification.
They questioned why official social media posts from the Ministry and Telecel announcing the merger were later deleted after public backlash.
The Minority further cast doubt on Telecel’s credibility, citing its failure to deliver on a promised US$500 million investment after acquiring Vodafone Ghana, and its reported debt of over US$400 million.
They described the proposed Telecel takeover as “technically, operationally, and financially reckless,” warning that it could stifle competition, threaten jobs, and erode national value.
“AT is a strategic national asset that must be protected. We cannot allow a deal that endangers 300 employees, 200 contract staff, and more than 10,000 indirect jobs,” Mr. Nyindam stressed.
