Accra – The Chairman of Parliament’s Communications Committee, Hon. Abed Bandim, has dismissed as unfounded claims by the Minority that there are irregularities in the operations of MultiChoice Ghana (DSTV) and that the Minister for Communications, Digitalisation and Innovation should resign.
At a press conference, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, Hon. Charles Owiredu, alleged improprieties in DSTV’s operations and accused the Minister of failing in his duties. But a Member of the Committee, Hon. Sulemana Adama in a response at a press conference on behalf of the Chairman, insisted the assertions “do not reflect the facts on the ground” and that there is “absolutely no justification” for calls on the Minister to step down.
He stressed that the Minister has acted within his mandate since assuming office seven months ago, showing “courage and patriotism” in steering the sector. According to him, the Minister’s engagement with DSTV and other telecom operators has already resulted in reduced costs of voice, data, and subscription services, winning broad public support.
Hon. Sulemana used the opportunity to highlight what he described as “legacy issues” under the previous NPP administration, including:
Vodafone Sale: The transfer to Telecel without sufficient parliamentary oversight or regulatory clarity, which created prolonged uncertainty.
Airtel-Tigo Merger: Losses exceeding $10 million within eight months, leaving taxpayers to sustain the operator amid poor service quality.
Next Gen Infraco 5G License: A 10-year exclusive deal awarded without open bidding, which he said delayed Ghana’s 5G adoption.
Rural Telephony Project: Logistical delays that left vital equipment stranded in bonded warehouses, hampering rural connectivity.
Kelni GVG Contract: An opaque monitoring arrangement that remains unresolved.
He argued that these examples reflected a communications environment that was “dictatorial and uncooperative with stakeholders” under former Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
Contrastingly, Adama described the current administration’s approach as one of openness, consultation, and stakeholder dialogue. He said the Minority’s criticisms amounted to “populist rants” and urged Ghanaians to ignore them.
“The Majority does not see anything wrong with the Minister asking for a price reduction, which is not against the law. On the contrary, it is in the interest of the Ghanaian consumer,” he said.
The Committee Chair further called on DSTV to stop issuing public statements and instead engage through proper corporate governance mechanisms, stressing the need for Parliament, the Ministry, the National Communications Authority, and industry players to work together to build a resilient and competitive communications sector.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
