The Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has stated that government has no plans of selling its 30 per cent stake in Ghana Telecommunications Limited.
She said earlier claims by the Minority that the government was in the process of selling its interest in the network were inaccurate.
“Mr Speaker, the government of Ghana has no plans of selling its 30 per cent shareholding in the Ghana Telecommunications Limited,” she stated.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful who is also the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, gave this assurance on the floor of Parliament in Accra yesterday in response to a question asked of her by the Member for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etsey Dafeamekpor.
According to her, the British multinational telecommunications giant, Vodafone, which has ran the company since acquiring majority stakeholding since 2008, has sold its share to Telecel effective February 2023.
Asked if the government of Ghana, the holder of 30 per cent minority share in the entity was sought, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said that was not required.
“Under the shareholders agreement, the consent of the minority shareholder is not required for Vodafone Ghana to transfer its shareholding,” she explained.
She could also not tell the House how much Telecel paid for the stake it bought in the telecommunications company when asked.
“Mr Speaker, the question was specific as to whether government has any plans to selling its share in Ghana Telecommunications Limited and the answer has also been specific that government has no such plan.
“If the Honourable Member requires any further information, I’ll suggest that he files a substantive question for that response. I do not have that information on top of my head.”
This development comes on the back of claims by the former minority leader and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, in Parliament early on in November, that plans were in place by the government to sell its share in the company for US$100 million.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
