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Committee hands over Vodafone report to government
By Awudu Salami Sule, Ghanadot
Accra, Sept 10, Ghanadot -
The Justice Addo Committee set up by the government to
investigate the sale and purchase agreement between Ghana and
Vodafone has presented its findings to the Minister of
Communication, Hon Haruna Iddrisu.
The committee was set up in May this year to determine whether
the country had the value for money in the sales agreement and
also to find out the true owners of Vodafone BV which acquired
majority shares in Ghana Telecom.
It was also mandated to investigate the inclusion of the
national fibre optic backbone being implemented with a 30
million dollar loan from the Exim Bank of China, in the
transaction.
The committee was given a 90-days duration but the time was
extended for another 15 days.
Receiving the report, Hon Haruna Iddrisu commended the committee
for their sacrifice in working on what he described as such an
important and delicate issue.
He said the government would scrutinise the report and the
recommendations made would serve as its line of action.
The minister said, government was aware of ramifications of any
decision that it would take to review the deal.
Hon Iddrisu reiterated the government's commitment to run an
open and transparent administration and this he noted would be
evident in all its decisions where the interest of the country
is concerned.
"I am very hopeful that the Justice Addo Committee report will
guide government to secure the interest of the public", he
added.
The sale of 70 per cent majority shares in Ghana Telecom to
Vodafone last year by the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP)
government was characterised by a lot of criticisms from some
section of the general public and the then opposition National
Democratic Congress (NDC).
In compliance with its campaign promise to review the agreement,
the NDC government set up the Justice Addo Committee to
investigate the deal and accordingly advise government on the
transaction.
Ghanadot
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