Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication, Mahama Ayariga, has formally submitted a request for information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.

Mr Ayariga’s inquiry is focused on the Next-Generation Infrastructure Company (Next-Gen InfraCo) deal, which has faced increased scrutiny regarding its implications for Ghana's telecommunications sector.

His request comes amid growing public concern over the transparency of government contracts and their potential impact on service delivery and competition within the industry. Ayariga is seeking detailed information, including the full contractual agreement between the government and Next-Gen InfraCo, as well as the terms and financial implications of the deal for the state.

Ayariga emphasized that such agreements should not rely solely on verbal assurances but must be made accessible to his office for thorough review.

Expressing his concern, he noted that the lack of transparency surrounding the deal could hinder public understanding and scrutiny, particularly regarding its alignment with national interests. He also called for accountability, especially amid allegations that the agreement might disproportionately benefit certain private interests over the public.

"On Thursday 30th May 2024 your good self briefed the world on the deployment of 5G telecommunications technology in Ghana. This letter requests certain information from you pursuant to the Right to Information Act of Ghana," Ayariga stated in his petition.

He continued, "Since your briefing, I have been reassigned to the office of Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communication. I have not sited any of the documents mentioned in your briefing, hence this request."

The government recently announced a partnership with seven industry leaders to establish new shared infrastructure aimed at providing affordable 5G mobile broadband services across Ghana.

Partners in the initiative include Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, along with two telecommunications firms, AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana. Together, they formed Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC), which has been granted a 5G license.

NGIC is expected to launch 5G services across Ghana within six months, with plans for expansion into other African markets. The company will be the first to build a nationwide 4G/5G network, collaborating with telecom companies to offer affordable 4G/5G-enabled fixed wireless access (FWA) devices and smartphones this year.

The partnership aims to improve digital services across education, healthcare, and financial transactions through peer-to-peer (P2P), peer-to-merchant (P2M), and merchant-to-merchant (M2M) systems. Additionally, NGIC will adopt India’s model of affordable handsets, digital platforms, and localized content to replicate this approach in Africa, starting with Ghana. The initiative is intended to bridge the digital divide and promote financial inclusion in the country.

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