Ranking member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications, Samuel Nartey George, has said the committee has not been officially told about the approval of the sale of 70 percent majority shares in Vodafone Ghana to Telecel Group.
He said the Committee has been left completely in the dark relative to the agreement.
Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show with Alfred Ocansey on TV3 Tuesday, January 17, the Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament said “It is necessary for us to scrutinize [the deal] because about five months ago, Telecel made an approach, Vodafone was ready to sell but the Ministry, through the regulator, blocked the sale.
“It will be important for us to interrogate the Ministry and the Regulator, why the same Telecel is being allowed now to purchase it. What has happened? What has occasioned the U-Turn by the regulator and the Ministry? What does this purchase mean for the Ghanaian customers of Vodafone? What does it mean for the workers, the Ghanain staff who are currently working for Vodafone? Will this lead to redundancy? What is the severance package if there will be redundancy?”
He added “We will need to have a clearer understanding. The Parliamentary Select Committee which represents the people and has the oversight responsibility of the Ministry and the Regulator, we have not been officially told anything, we are completely in the dark on this. We will be demanding answers on behalf of the Ghanaian people from the Ministry and the Regulator.”
On Monday, January 16, the National Communications Authority (NCA) announced that it has granted conditional approval for the transfer of 70 per cent Majority Shares in Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Vodafone Ghana) held by Vodafone International Holdings B.X to Telecel Group subject to concessions made by the Seller and representations made by the Buyer to the NCA.
