The Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has set the records straight regarding the viability of the company granted access to commercially operate 5G spectrum in the country.
It has been alleged that Next Gen Infrastructure Company was established within a week but received presidential authorization to build a neutral shared infrastructure to operate 4 and 5 spectrums.
But at a news conference, on May 30, 2024, the Minister said the Next Gen InfraCo was put together to handle the deployment of the country’s 5G spectrum because there was no existing company to do so in Ghana.
Earlier, Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni raised issues with the contract awarded to Next Gen Infraco Ltd. by the Communications Ministry to rollout Ghana’s 5G infrastructure.
In a Facebook post, Mr Azure stated that the company does not have the needed track record as it was incorporated less than a week before President Akufo-Addo granted executive approval for the deal.
He contended that the timing for the award of the contract raises eyebrows, given its significance.
Mr Awuni said the contract, which is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was awarded through sole sourcing. Thus, no other company was given the opportunity to bid for the project.
He stated the lack of competitive bidding raises issues of transparency and fairness of the procurement process.
By Stanley Nii Blewu
