Communications Minister, Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful believes suggestion by critics that government is gagging Kelni GVG from engaging the media whilst government does the PR for them is totally misplaced.
Kelni and its foreign partner GVG were engaged by the Communications Ministry to operate a common platform that would monitor in real time the activities of telcos in Ghana to ensure that government is not shortchanged in getting the right taxes.
The contract with Kelni GVG was also to ensure that the Communications Service Tax Act of 2013, Act 864 is implemented to the letter.
The company has maintained a stony silence in the midst of controversies surrounding the 89 million dollar five-year contract.
At a media engagement on Friday, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful attempted to provide answers to the repeatedly nagging question on why her ministry is sort of speaking for Kelni GVG.
“Why Kelni GVG is not answering the questions?” she prepped herself, “all the questions so far were directed at the Ministry of Communications; all the allegations were made against the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Finance.”
Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful however conceded that the ministry is “rightfully” positioned to respond to all the begging questions, and not the company which virtually played no role in the processes that got them the contract as well as other procurement issues.
According to the Communications Minister, the incessant demands to get Kelni GVG speak to the raging issues could be disruptive.
Many, especially civil society groups led by IMANI-Ghana, have been asking government to come clear on the identities of persons behind Kelni.
“Whether who is behind Kelni to me is a distraction, they have been engaged to do a job, I would much rather they focused on their job,” Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful shot back.
The minister is asking the public to exercise restraint.
“Trust me, at the appropriate time you will see them,” she said, and even dared those who doubt the credibility of the company to look up for them on the internet or call at their office located at Labone in Accra.
The media engagement held at the offices of the National Communications Authority (NCA) was attended by the two Deputy Communications Ministers, George Andah and Vincent Sowah Odotei, as well as Director General of the NCA, Joe Anokye, NCA Board Chairman Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Nti, and managers from their respective institutions.
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