Journalists Harass Minister

A group of Ghanaian journalists have taken the communication minister Dr. Aggrey Ntim to task, over the sale of state-owned Ghana Telecom to British private telecommunication operator, Vodafone.

At a meet-the-press series in Accra Tuesday, the journalists slammed the minister over government’s intention to offload 70% shares in the national asset to a foreign private company at a cost of US$900 million.

Dr. Aggrey Ntim in his speech earlier, emphasized government’s determination to sell the national asset so as to recapitalize and ensure enhanced technology to provide quality service to Ghanaians.

But journalists were emotionally charged with such an explanation and bombarded him with tough questions.

Their questions hinged around security of Ghanaians if strategic asset like Ghana Telecom was sold to foreigners, while others wanted to know why the government was interested in selling almost every national asset.

Meanwhile parliament was yet to ratify the sale agreement while political parties have warned government to refrain from selling Ghana Telecom.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government has attempted to sell Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), all national assets but backed out after intense pressure from civil society organisations.