URSULA’S ‘SHADY DEALS’ WITH KELNI GVG AND LEBARA: DZATA GOES TO AG

Sam Nartey George, the Communications Minister, has kicked up a storm by seeking legal advice about the shady contracts inked by his predecessor, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

He’s questioning two controversial deals – one with Hatian outfit Kelni GVG and the other with Lebara involving the government’s eGovernance platform.

The move, revealed in a circular issued today, comes as part of President John Mahama’s unwavering stance against corruption and ensuring bang for the taxpayer’s buck in public-private partnerships.

The Minister is gunning for legal clarity on the Lebara contract, which stripped the management of the eGovernment platform from the National Information Technology Agency and handed it over to Lebara for a decade.

Critics have slammed this shift, questioning the wisdom of putting the government’s tech infrastructure in private hands. The Kelni GVG deal, worth a hefty US$173 million, also faces the heat.

It raises eyebrows for duplicating services already being provided by local players Afriwave and Subah Info Solution.

This controversial move sparked a lawsuit by think tank IMANI Africa against the government, demanding the contract be scrapped.

A legal drama is anticipated to unfold in the coming days over these eyebrow-raising agreements that Ursula Owusu-Ekuful rushed to sign.”