Accra: Mr Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, has condemned those responsible for managing the AirtelTigo transaction, labeling them as 'enemies of the state.' Mr George's criticism stems from the sale of AirtelTigo, which was allegedly burdened with a staggering GHS3.5 billion debt, for a mere one dollar.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. George's statements were made during a discussion with journalists in Parliament on Monday. The Minister questioned the patriotism of those who oversaw the AirtelTigo process, describing them as individuals lacking in national loyalty. He expressed his disapproval, stating, 'Those who managed the AirtelTigo process are enemies of our state and individuals who have no sense of patriotism.'
The Minister revealed that discussions with the American Embassy had highlighted concerns over AirtelTigo's financial liabilities. He mentioned that the American Embassy, along with their team, visited his office, where one of the major issues raised was the company's indebtedness to ATC. 'The debt sitting on the books of AirtelTigo exceeds 3.5 billion Ghana Cedis,' he informed the media.
Mr. George emphasized the seriousness of the situation, questioning, 'So if someone told you that they bought it for 1 dollar, who is going to pay the 1.3 billion that is sitting there and accumulating interest?' He noted that the sale of AirtelTigo had raised eyebrows, with many questioning the decision to sell a company with such significant debt for a token price.