News

Government will not revoke GT sale- Haruna Iddrisu
Abdul Salam Sule, Ghanadot

Accra, Feb 12, Ghanadot - Contrary to the speculations that, the Atta Mills-led NDC administration will revoke the sale of Ghana Telecom (GT) to Vodafone International, the Minister of Communication designate and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Hon Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed that, government would not revoke the sales and purchase agreement.

But he said, the government would only review the sales and purchase agreement which was conducted in the erstwhile NPP administration and was duly endorsed by parliament.

Hon Haruna Iddrisu made this assurance when he appeared before the appointment committee of parliament yesterday for him to be vetted as a nominee Communication Minister.

He stated that, the NDC in its manifesto promised to review the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone International and their quest to review the sales and purchase agreement was to fulfill a campaign promise.

When asked by a member of the committee whether the review of the sale and purchase agreement would not scare potential foreign investors from investing in the country, Hon Haruna answered otherwise.

According to him, the intended review by the government was to make sure the right procedure was followed by the government of Ghana and Vodafone International, saying, there would be no witch hunting.

The Minister designate said any review would be done in accordance with the law and the government would be guided by the national interest.

He said for instance, in the sales agreement which the government of Ghana entered with Vodafone International, the issue of whether the Ghana Telecom University College would be controlled by the government or Vodafone was not addressed and the review of the sales would make provision for that.

"The President Atta Mills-led administration believes in transparency and that is what the government is going to promote in the review of the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone", he assured Ghanaians.

Hon Haruna stated that, review did not necessarily mean the deal would be revoked, stressing that any review would be aimed at ensuring that both parties remained committed to their obligations under the sale and purchase agreement.

It should be noted that, on July 3rd 2008, the government of Ghana announced an agreement on the sale of GT to Vodafone International. In the agreement, government would retain 30% share and Vodafone, 70%.

But the sale did not go down well with the then opposition NDC who together with other minority political parties staged a demonstration on the street of Accra to register their disapproval.

The demonstration was led by Prof John Atta Mills, who was then the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) and their argument was that, no proper revaluation was done on the assets of GT before the sale agreement was sealed by government of Ghana Vodafone International.