I regret opposing the sale of Ghana Telecom - Boateng Gyan

Former National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan has in an interview with Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, expressed regrets of his criticism against the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), for the sale of Ghana Telecom now Vodafone Ghana.

The national telecommunications company was sold for $266.57 million in 2006 by the then NPP administration.

The move in 2006 was met with stiff opposition from the then biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress in alliance with the Committee for Joint Action led by Kwesi Pratt Jnr and other well-meaning Ghanaians.

Opposition thus took to the streets in series of demonstrations to vent their anger, leading to the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee later in May 2009 to review the sale of Ghana’s 70 per cent shares in Ghana Telecom to Vodafone.

However, Yaw Boateng Gyan said he has regretted opposing the decision by the NPP, to sell the state asset since it has yielded very good results.

According to him, the move has turned out to be the best economic decision by the then erstwhile Kufuor administration.

He said, since the takeover, things has gone well and has improved upon services and the telecom sector is more efficient than before.

His comments come after days of President Mahama's justification for the privatisation of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

President Mahama at telecom expo a fortnight ago said, privatisation of ECG will make more efficient.

He said there was opposition from individuals when the government decided to sell the then Ghana Telecom, which he said has yielded good results.

“Those were some of the “chimeras” that were pulled out of the box because we were going to privatise and allow private participation. Today I can see a similar development of the inefficient downstream distribution system on the electricity and power front. We are trying to do reforms, and those chimeras are being drawn out,'' President said.

Yaw Boateng Gyan said the privatisation will make the ECG more efficient and has therefore called on the opposition NPP to support the decision by government.

In his view, the NPP should not lambast government over the decision; rather they should commend government and hope that things will turn out well for the ECG.