IMANI Urges MPs to Ask Relevant Questions as Ursula Appears Before House Today

The President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, Mr Franklin Cudjoe, has advised Members of Parliament (MPs) to ask the Minister of Communications, Ms Ursula Owusu, probing questions on the controversial $89 million KelniGVG contract when she appears before the House today.

According to Mr Cudjoe, the MPs should not allow the minister to hoodwink them but ask relevant questions, including benefits the country would derive from the deal.

“On Tuesday when you meet in Parliament, demand this particular question to be answered: What are we getting in return, don’t let them bamboozle you by saying to you that they are saving  $1.1 million of the previous deal, which was bad according to them,” he said on Citi FM’s analysis programme last Saturday.

Mr Cudjoe demanded that the government rescind the $89 million contract between Ghana and Haitian firm KelniGVG.

IMANI Africa sent a petition to the Vice-President to revoke the contract for the design, development and implementation of a common platform for traffic monitoring, revenue assurance and mobile money monitoring.

Mr Cudjoe’s argument is based on the fact that companies such as Subah Infosolutions and Afriwave Telcom Ltd are already undertaking the same functions expected of the new firm.

However, a Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr George Andah, rubbished the assessment of the policy think tank of the contract with KelniGVG for the provision of oversight and revenue assurance monitoring equipment.

Ms Owusu has subsequently been summoned to appear in Parliament today after IMANI Africa accused the ministry of signing a deal that was a replica of the state’s agreements with Subah Infosolutions and Afriwave Telecom Ltd in 2010 and 2016 respectively.

Source: Daily Graphic