Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has alleged that Nigerian businessman Phillips Olawole Olaiya, has unethically taken advantage of his relationship with government to make "unconscionable sweetheart deals" that have had negative effects on the economy.

In a Facebook post over the weekend, Mr Ablakwa noted that despite companies belonging to Phillips Olawole Olaiya having no track record, they have been provided with contract worth US$371.5million in the communication sector being spearheaded by Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

Among the "controversial" contracts awarded to the "Nigerian cabal" include: Kelni GVG revenue assurance deal valued at US$178million; Smart Infraco COVID-19 Smart workplace deal valued at US$36million; Ascend Digital Solutions Limited Rural Telephony deal valued at US$48million; Ascend/AirtelTigo JV World Bank funded eTransform project valued at US$49.5million.

The last but not least is the National Communication Authority's (NCA) clandestine new Electronic Communications Managed Services License (ECMSL).

According to Mr Ablakwa, this contract seeks to "restrict Ericsson and Huawei so as to create a new looting category for this same Nigerian Cabal in a deal experts say can potentially generate US$60million in conservative annual profits."

In the signing of these deals, Mr Ablakwa alleges "the flagrant violation of our procurement laws, rigged systems to favour them, and the impunity with which they flout other laws."

For Mr Ablakwa, it is unacceptable for the IT geniuses in Ghana to be abandoned for those in Nigeria.

"What happened to the once celebrated and well established Ghanaian IT firms? Will any Nigerian President or Nigerian Ministers of State do this for any Ghanaian businessman?Will Nigerians and Nigerian industry players accept this if it happened in their country?" he quizzed.

He argued that the Ghanaian economy would fare much better should Ghanaian tech entrepreneurs have been provided with US$371.5million to enable them to assume commanding heights.

Meanwhile, Mr Ablakwa has pledged to continue to track the issue as a lot more is in the offing.

Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey