The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the legality of the 5G deal awarded to Next Gen Infraco by the government.
According to the Minority, the transaction was being finalised without the knowledge or approval of Parliament.
Last week the government announced that it has taken a significant step towards achieving a fully digitised country by 2030 through a special purpose vehicle licensed to roll out 5G mobile broadband by the end of the year.
Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a new shared infrastructure company, co-promoted by the government and private sector technology solutions entities – Ascend Digital and K-NET, will make an initial investment of about $200 million into building a nationwide 4G/5G network.
The NGIC was set up after the government entered into a strategic partnership with the consortium, including Radisys, Nokia and Tech Mahindra, supported by all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country.
At the Meet-the-Press series, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, said the shared network infrastructure for 5G represented “a strategic move to provide affordable, high-speed mobile broadband services, reduce the digital divide and promote financial inclusion.”
“The creation of NGIC as a neutral, shared platform accessible to all mobile network operators and tower companies will help to expand 5G services rapidly across the country. We are inspired by India’s digital infrastructure and low-cost mobile data usage and are keen to replicate it in Ghana,” she said.
Licence requirements
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the “landmark partnership” which was signed in Mumbai, India, on Monday, May 27, this year, was the culmination of a process which started over two years ago.
She explained that NGIC’s equity would be held by the Republic of Ghana, Ascend Digital, K-NET, all MNOs in the country, and other investors, including the technology providers who may wish to join the consortium.
The minister added that per the 5G licence awarded to NGIC, the entity was expected to launch 5G services across the country within the next six months, with clear plans for future expansion into other parts of Africa.
She also said in line with international best practices, NGIC’s licence would be long term, issued for a period of at least 10 years. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the initial focus was on building a scalable shared infrastructure in the country, with the potential to expand to other parts of Africa.
She said the NGIC was also targeting to be the first 5G mobile broadband shared infrastructure entity to build a nationwide 4G/5G network. The minister also said the company had plans to launch affordable 4G/5G-enabled Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and smartphones within this year.
Touching on the roles of the various entities in the consortium, she said the shared 4G and 5G infrastructure would be built by Nokia and Radisys, while information technology architecture and integration would be provided by Microsoft and Tech Mahindra.
“This collaboration ensures that we leverage cutting-edge world-class expertise and technology to build a robust digital infrastructure,” she said.
Next Gen Infraco’s 5G deal illegal – Minority
However, in a press statement issued on Monday, June 3, 3034, the Minority in Parliament said the 5G spectrum transaction awarded to Next Gen Infraco Limited was a multi-year contract, hence subject to parliamentary approval per section 33 of the Public Financial Management Act 2016 (Act 921).
“Unfortunately, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is almost concluding this deal at the blindside of Parliament. The renders the entire transaction unlawful, null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever,” they stated.
“Some of the entities in the Consortium, which are the beneficiaries of this opaque transaction, are mushroom entities owned by cronies of President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Communications, with questionable track records.
“As a matter of fact, some of these entities have been engaged by this same government in similar arrangements that have offered no value for money for the state.”
