Investors, especially foreign ones, are being cautioned by the Minority in Parliament not to pursue any possible acquisition of AirtelTigo without the required parliamentary approval.
They contend that if foreign investors were to undertake such a takeover, it would be regarded as an international agreement under the supervision of Parliament.
Speaking on Friday, February 9, on the floor of Parliament, Samuel Nartey George, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, stated that Ursula Owusu-Ekufful, the Minister of Communications, must immediately bring any such agreement to sell AirtelTigo to Parliament.
He issued a warning to foreign investors, telling them to exercise extreme caution when making agreements. He also emphasized that if they think they are buying assets owned by the Ghanaian people without the required parliamentary approval, the agreement will be declared void in any court sitting in Ghana.
The Ghanaian Constitution is very clear: you cannot claim that just because you purchased stolen goods from the brother of the original owner, it validates your actions.
“If the laws of Ghana stipulate that an international company purchasing a state asset must go through Parliament, and you choose to purchase from a minister without doing so, buyer beware—Parliament would hold the minister accountable, and I’m sure the next John Mahama government in 2025 will not honor any such agreements,” the speaker declared.
Mr. George emphasized that the media will receive thorough information from the minority side of the communications committee, highlighting the fact that Parliament has not been officially notified and thus the sale of AirtelTigo cannot proceed.
This house is where AirtelTigo must come if you are selling it to a foreign company. We witnessed President Kufuor visit this house and sell Vodafone. He stated, “We would expect and as a committee, we will demand that Ursula Owusu respect the directive of Mr. Speaker and come and brief the committee on issues involving the status of AirtelTigo and any potential deal. Ursula Owusu cannot become a law unto herself.”
According to the National Democratic Congress MP for the Ningo-Prampram constituency, the nearly GH₵200 million debt that AirtelTigo owes a tower company in the nation worries the minority side of the communications committee.
“What happens to that tower company if you say you won’t be paying? And is the tower company expected to keep providing services to this new investor if you bring in this new investor? What occurs, and who bears the cost? Since the government has decided to assume responsibility for the mismanagement of a private entity, are they going to shift that debt onto taxpayers like you and me?
He stated, “There are questions that need to be addressed and you can be confident that the various rumors we are hearing about that deal won’t come to pass.”
“Because it is necessary to settle those liabilities. According to Mr. George, AirtelTigo owes banks as well as service providers like tower companies.
