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Ghana Telecom Process To Be Concluded By June |
| The privatisation process of Ghana Telecom is likely to be completed by the end of this month, the Minister of Communications, Dr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, told Parliament yesterday. |
According to him, 70 out of the 100 per cent shares owned by the Government of Ghana would be up for sale to corporate organisations and the public.
In an answer to a question by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the minister noted that the exercise could have been completed a long time ago but for the reason that offers received from some of the investors were not satisfactory.
The MP had asked the minister when the National Communications Authority (NCA) would announce the winners of the bid for Ghanaian operators to provide fixed telephone services in the five zones of the country under the domestic fixed telecommunications services.
Dr Ntim explained that as a result of that development, the government had to invite more proposals from other interested investors in Ghana Telecom.
He further explained that the government took the decision to privatise both Ghana Telecom and Westel within a two-year period through the sale of government shares in both companies.
“ Mr Speaker, considering the potential impact the grant of zonal licences will have on the outcome of the privatisation exercise, government decided to shelve the zonal licence allocation until the conclusion of the privatisation processes of Ghana Telecom and Westel”, he said.
The minister added that while the privatisation of Westel was concluded in December 2007, that of Ghana Telecom would be completed by the end of this month.
Dr Ntim also informed the House that the government had intensified its activities on the erection of telecommunication towers and masts for use by all operators in previously under-served areas.
He was of the view that the operationalisation of Community Information Centres would also help address issues of access to ICT services in the rural communities.
The MP for North Tongu Mr Charles S. Hodogbey, also enquired from the minister when telephone services would be provided in a number of communities in his constituency.
He mentioned the communities as, Juapong, Dofor, Adidome, Volo, Battor, Aveyime and Mepe.
Responding, Dr Ntim said Juapong had had Onetouch coverage since March 2007 stressing that the provision of the wireless signals for the area had raised the need to employ fixed cellular telephony .
He said Ghana telecom had accordingly planned that Adidome, Battor, Mepe, Aveyime and other surrounding towns would have telephone services by the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.
“ Mr Speaker, aside telephone services of Ghana Telecom, the Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) already has coverage in Juapong, Adidome, Battor, Aveyime and Mepe,” he said.
The minister said with regard to Dofor and Volo, the company intended to provide coverage in 2009.
He said in addition, Millicom Ghana Limited, operators of the TIGO network, already had coverage in Volo, Battor and Aveyime.
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