Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons has voiced concerns over the recent 5G internet service procurement in Ghana.
He highlighted a potential conflict of interest involving Next Gen Infraco, the company awarded the contract, and Integrated Legal Consultants, a law firm implicated in previous contentious tenders.
Simons stated, “The company awarded this juicy contract – Next Gen Infraco – is fronted by Integrated Legal Consultants, the same law firm that fronted for bidders in the murky Kelni GVG tender.”
This comment comes amid investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni’s inquiries into the government’s decision to grant Next Gen Infraco Ltd. the contract for Ghana’s 5G infrastructure project.
Awuni’s skepticism stems from the lack of competitive bidding and the timing of the company’s formation, which occurred just a week before receiving presidential approval.
Awuni questioned, “The company that has been handed the deal was formed less than a week before the president’s approval. The 5G technology, according to industry experts, can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Why is it being handed to one company without an auction? Why were different companies not allowed to bid for the contract?”
In contrast, Communications and Digitalisation Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful defended the transaction, stating that Next Gen Infraco Ltd. was specifically created to manage the 5G rollout due to a lack of existing companies capable of the task.
Owusu-Ekuful clarified, “This is a special purpose vehicle, and once the government took the decision that we will use a neutral infrastructure company to deliver this service, there is no existing neutral infrastructure company that can deliver it at the moment.”
The situation raises questions about transparency and fairness in the procurement process and the relationship between Next Gen Infraco and entities involved in prior controversial contracts.