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Some minority members in Parliament have urged the government to reverse its decision to buy 49.5% of Airtel’s shares in AirtelTigo.
A member of a Parliament Communications Committee and a deputy from Kunbungu, Ras Mubarak has said that the government has no right to acquire a company that is making losses and has liabilities of almost GH ¢ 1 billion.
According to him, the government should reverse its decision and seek better alternatives to protect people’s livelihoods instead of taking over the company.
“Regarding the facts that we know, I don’t think it is in the short and long term interest of the people of Ghana.
“The government should not be a referee and a player, it doesn’t make any sense. The government is the referee through the NCA and wants to be the player after the acquisition of AirtelTigo ”, he added.
His comments come after Bharti Airtel’s decision to sell 100% of the shares of its Ghana business for $ 25 million to the government of Ghana, which will acquire agreed clients, assets and liabilities.
Ras Mubarak explained that the government would go against its promises in the 2016 PNP manifesto, as it plans to lead job creation and not the private sector.
He added that “the government should not make such an important decision just a few days before the next elections.
“The PNP government in its 2016 manifesto on trade and industry stated that it should be the private sector that leads the creation of jobs in the country and not the government.
“There has to be a reversal in the interest of the private sector. Otherwise, the government will force other companies into that space, “he said.
According to a statement from the Communications Ministry, the government has gone far with discussions with AirtelTigo to transfer Airtel’s shares to the government.
“The Government of Ghana, Airtel and Tigo are in advanced stages of talks to transfer AirtelTigo shares to the Government of Ghana along with all agreed clients, assets and liabilities.”
