Minister Exposes Ablakwa’s ‘Fallacy’ Contract

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has shot down a fantasy fallacy of a $48 million contract allegedly signed by her for the execution of a rural telephony project by Ascend Digital Solutions.

National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa alleged the minister had awarded a “juicy contract” cloaked in secret to a supposed “Nigerian cabal.”

In a social media post, Ablakwa claimed that the Commercial Agreement for the US$155 million rural telephony project, which Parliament approved on March 31, 2020, could only be executed by Huawei Technologies Company Limited and the China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC).

“If any other entity outside these two companies takes over the project, it would amount to a variation of what has been approved by Parliament and therefore a prior parliamentary amendment to the original commercial agreement,” the MP added.

But the minister has shot back by accusing the opposition lawmaker of relying on a false conjecturing contract, daring him to produce the supposed $48 million contract between the Government and Ascend Digital Solutions without approval of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).

Ignorant Rants

“I’m still waiting for the $48 million contract I’m supposed to have signed without PPA approval. That hasn’t been produced yet Ablakwa is now jumping from pillar to post!! [I] won’t dignify ignorant rants with a response. I have work to do,” Ursula wrote in a response to the accusation.

“Ablakwa, please produce the contract you claim I signed without PPA approval. This is the only RTP contract I have signed, approved by Parliament,” the minister, who is also NPP MP for Ablekuma West, added.

Contract Publication

Since the allegations, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has joined the fray, explaining that the Government, through a financing arrangement with China, gave a contract to Huawei and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC).

NPP Deputy Director of IT, Ato Kwamena Forson said the contract followed all due processes including Cabinet approval, Parliamentary approval and PPA approval.

“Yes, there are two parts of the contract, one being executed by Huawei and the other being executed by CNTIC.

“CNTIC has engaged Ascend Digital solution as their local partner in executing their part of the work. This is a business to business contract, hence there was no need for PPA approval,” he explained further.

According to him, MP Ablakwa wrote to PPA requesting for details of the authority’s approval of a contract between the Ministry of Communications and Ascend for a rural telephony project in 2020.

“Note that Ablakwa was specific. PPA said they don’t have anything on a contract between the Ministry of Communications and Ascend and rightfully so because the Government has not engaged Ascend,” he noted.

Mr. Forson said, “Ablakwa in his usual style came to Facebook and accused the Ministry of Communications of breaching procurement laws. He didn’t bother to reach out to the Ministry or his colleague MP, the Minister, for better and further particulars.”

“As usual he was more interested in setting up the Minister and the Government for attacks. It has emerged that, indeed, the only contract the Government signed was with Huawei and CNTIC and all procurement procedures were followed,” he added.

According to him, “Government has not awarded any contract to Ascend Digital Solutions as falsely put out by Ablakwa.”

“Consequently, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s public outburst was highly unnecessary and untrue because Ascend didn’t have any contract with the Government. A simple request to the Ministry would have averted this grand embarrassment,” he intimated.

He made public copies of the PPA approvals as well as the parliamentary approval for the contract between the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, and Huawei as well as CNTIC.

By Ernest Kofi Adu