The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George has made serious allegations against the previous Akufo-Addo administration, accusing it of entering into a controversial contract that redirects funds meant for the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) to a private entity.
In a statement that has drawn significant attention, George expressed his frustration over what he described as an unjust arrangement that strips NITA of its rightful revenue while enabling a third-party company to profit substantially from the situation.
The minister revealed that NITA had an existing contract with a third-party vendor, under which the revenue that should have gone to NITA was being diverted.
Sam George, who has summoned the third-party vendor to appear before him for questioning, said, “I do not understand how all the revenue coming to NITA is being redirected.”
He emphasized that such an arrangement was highly concerning, given that it left NITA without the financial resources it needed while benefiting a private company.
Additionally, George disclosed that he had been presented with a nearly four million Ghana Cedis payment request for services provided using NITA’s infrastructure.
However, he refused to approve the payment, instead referring the matter to the Attorney General. “I have refused to sign it and have referred it to the Attorney General,” he said.
He further clarified that he would not approve any such payments until he fully understood the details of the contract and the reasons behind this unusual financial arrangement.
The minister raised significant concerns about the financial burden being placed on NITA, which is reportedly carrying debt, while a private entity was reaping substantial profits using the agency’s infrastructure.
“I will not authorise such payments until I understand why NITA is not receiving a dime while a private sector player is using NITA’s infrastructure and earning almost four million Ghana Cedis. Meanwhile, all the debt is sitting on NITA’s books while the revenue goes to the private sector,” he stated, questioning the fairness of the situation.
In his criticism of the previous administration, George went as far as to label the situation as a case of “state capture,” accusing those in power of allowing a private entity to exploit state resources for their own gain.
He assured the public that he would provide Parliament with a thorough briefing on what he described as the “rot” within the ministry.
“The ministry is a true definition of state capture. I will come to the house and brief the house extensively on the irregularities within the ministry,” he concluded.
This controversy has sparked significant debate, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the potential misuse of public resources.
