Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication, Mahama Ayariga, has formally submitted a request for information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful. His inquiry focuses on the Next-Generation Infrastructure Company (Next-Gen InfraCo) deal, which has faced increased scrutiny regarding its implications for the telecommunications sector in Ghana.
Mr Ayariga’s request comes in response to growing public concern about the transparency of government contracts and their impact on service delivery and competition within the industry. He is seeking specific information, including the full contractual agreement between the government and Next-Gen InfraCo, the deal’s terms, and any financial implications for the state.
He has emphasised that such agreements should not be limited to verbal statements and must be made available to his office for proper review. Expressing his apprehension, Mr Ayariga noted that the lack of accessible information surrounding the deal could impede public scrutiny and understanding of its alignment with national interests.
He called for accountability, particularly amid allegations that the agreement may disproportionately benefit certain private interests at the expense of the public. The government had recently announced a partnership with seven industry leaders to establish a new shared infrastructure designed to provide affordable 5G mobile broadband services throughout Ghana.
