The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, has strongly criticized former Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful over the controversial $1 acquisition of AirtelTigo, calling it a reckless and unpatriotic decision that has left Ghana with a crippling GHS 3.5 billion debt.
Speaking at the press briefing, Hon. Sam George expressed outrage at the financial burden inherited by the government following the takeover of AirtelTigo from Millicom (a U.S. company) and Bharti Airtel (an Indian company).
Hon. Sam George revealed that just one of the company’s creditors, American Tower Company (ATC), has presented a bill of GHS 1.5 billion, which is part of the larger GHS 3.5 billion debt accrued under the previous administration.
“For anyone to have told us that they bought AirtelTigo for $1, and now I have taken over the ministry, only for ATC alone to bring us a bill of 1.5 billion Ghana Cedis—what does that mean? Today, the American Ambassador was in my office, and one of the major issues raised was the indebtedness to ATC,” Hon. Sam George stated.
He questioned the rationale behind absorbing a private company’s debts onto Ghana’s balance sheet, arguing that such a move lacked foresight and patriotism.
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, of also accused the previous administration of attempting to restructure the company’s assets in a questionable manner.
“To show how irresponsible the actions were, after they absorbed the company and its debt onto the Government of Ghana’s balance sheet, they attempted to drop the assets of the company into a new entity. They even engaged Bharti Airtel again to take over a ‘clean’ company without the debt. The Attorney General has work to do because we cannot run a country like this,” he added.
The controversial $1 AirtelTigo deal, signed under Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, was initially justified as a strategic move to maintain telecom services and jobs in Ghana.
However, the staggering debts now uncovered have raised serious questions about the due diligence, accountability, and long-term financial implications of the acquisition.
Story by Freedom Lavoe
