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Business News of Sunday, 3 June 2018

Source: peacefmonline.com

Kelni GVG Deal: We're not against businesses - Ursula Owusu

Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has allayed fears of businesses in the communications sector regarding the government's $89 million contract with Kelni GVG.

Following the signing of the contract with Kelni GVG, the Communications and Finance Ministries have come under a barrage of criticisms.

President of IMANI, Franklin Cudjoe has impugned the deal stating the contract is needless as it amounts to duplication of jobs which will result in the depletion of the country's resources.

The deal is also feared to cripple telecommunications businesses and further have rippling effects on the economy.

But, according to Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the businesses should have no cause to fear as the deal is in their interest.

Delivering a speech at Parliament on Thursday, May 31, 2018, the Communications Minister assured all companies in the sector that "we are not against big businesses. We however take a dim view of those who will flout our laws with impunity and expect all our corporate citizens to pay their due just as they would in their countries of origin. As H.E the President indicated during the CEOs Awards last week, 'We must deepen the payment of taxes, and broaden the tax net to include the informal sector in the payment of appropriate taxes. It is particularly important that we enhance the capacity of our tax authorities so that the big players in our economy, i.e. the mining companies, the oil companies, the telecommunication companies, pay their correct taxes. For too long, such companies have been the source of the massive flight of capital from our country and our continent. I am a firm believer in honest profits, but I will not condone illicit financial outflows. We know how injurious they have been to Africa’s development.'"

She added that "there has been absolutely no corruption or underhand dealings in this transaction".

She therefore wants the businesses to repose confidence in her saying she can "never be party to any such conduct as I value my reputation and the reputation of the government which serves the good people of Ghana. I stand here as a Minister of the Akufo-Addo administration to assure this august house that I believe this is the best deal we could have got".