Remembering Ursula Owusu-Ekuful
The sole-sourcing nature of this contract and the company's nascent status raised concerns about transparency and due process
As the 9th Parliament commerce today, Ursula Owusu at the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation Ghana will be remembered for several contracts that attracted timely opposition from the public yet with brute force, the minister prevailed against the desire of good conscience.
These instances highlight concerns regarding procurement processes, transparency, and adherence to regulatory frameworks within the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation during Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful’s tenure.
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1. Kelni GVG Contract: In 2018, the Ministry entered into an $89 million agreement with Kelni GVG for telecom revenue monitoring and fraud management.
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The Communications Minister defended the contract, asserting its necessity for effective telecom monitoring.
The effectiveness of this must be evaluated in the first 100 days of the new minister for Communication and Digitalization.
2. 5G Network Rollout Contract: In May 2024, the government awarded a contract for 5G network deployment to NextGen InfraCo Limited, a company established just a week prior to receiving executive approval.
The sole-sourcing nature of this contract and the company’s nascent status raised concerns about transparency and due process. Minister Owusu-Ekuful justified the decision, stating that NextGen was specifically formed to execute the 5G rollout, as no existing neutral infrastructure company in Ghana had the requisite capacity.
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This must also be evaluated in the first 100 days.
3. Rural Telephony Project Contract: In July 2023, allegations surfaced that the Ministry awarded a $48 million rural telephony project contract without approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
The contract was purportedly granted to Ascend Digital Solutions, a company linked to a Nigerian consortium.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa accused the Minister of bypassing procurement regulations. Minister Owusu-Ekuful refuted these claims, challenging the accusers to provide evidence of any wrongdoing.
This must also be revisited.
4. Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Platform Management: In 2018, the Ministry’s decision to engage StarTimes, a Chinese firm, for the management of Ghana’s DTT platform sparked debate.
Critics, including some parliamentarians, contended that the agreement could undermine local enterprises and questioned the transparency of the procurement process.
The Ministry under the supervision of Ursula Owusu maintained that the collaboration was essential for Ghana’s digital migration agenda.
By Kwesi Atuahene
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