The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, has strongly criticized the controversial sale of AirtelTigo, a major telecommunications company, accusing those behind the deal of betraying the country’s interests.
The sale, which saw the company transferred for just one dollar, has sparked widespread outrage, particularly because the company was already burdened with a staggering GHC 3.5 billion debt.
In a fiery statement to the press on Monday, March 24, Mr. George did not hold back, calling the individuals involved in the sale “enemies of the state.
” He expressed disbelief that such a crucial asset could be sold for such a low price, given its massive financial liabilities.
Those who managed the AirtelTigo process are enemies of our state and individuals with no sense of patriotism,” he said,
The sale took a more alarming turn when Mr. George revealed that one of AirtelTigo’s major creditors, the American Tower Company (ATC), had recently presented a bill to the Ministry for an eye-watering 1.5 billion Ghana Cedis.
Combined with the company’s other debts, the total liabilities are now well over GHC 3.5 billion, raising serious concerns about who will be held responsible for the debt.
Mr. George also shared that representatives from the U.S. Embassy had raised concerns about AirtelTigo’s debts, particularly regarding its financial obligations to ATC, during a recent meeting with the Ministry.
This has led to fears that the company’s financial situation could push it to the brink of collapse, leaving the government to pick up the pieces.
“Who will pay the 1.3 billion cedis that is just sitting there and accumulating interest?” he asked.
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