Minister and Committee Chair Clash Over Poor Network Service

Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George and Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Abena Osei Asare recently engaged in a tense exchange. This happened during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting. The disagreement focused on poor mobile network quality and slow repairs. Concerns were raised by committee members about unreliable telecom services. Minister George defended the government's efforts. He stated that policies are in place to protect consumers. Private telecom companies prioritize profit, he explained. These companies pay taxes to the government. Strong policy leadership is needed to safeguard customers. The minister believes recent government actions have achieved this protection. As George presented his case, Abena Osei Asare, also the former Deputy Finance Minister, tried to interrupt. She urged him to be more direct. This interruption led to a heated confrontation between the two lawmakers. The exchange highlighted the challenges in balancing regulatory oversight with the operational realities of telecommunications infrastructure deployment. Minister George asserted his right to speak as a Member of Parliament. He resisted what he termed "heckling" from the committee chair. He stressed that policy decisions, not sentiment, drive improvements. Abena Osei Asare countered, stating she was not heckling. She simply wanted the minister to get to the point. She expressed frustration with lengthy political rhetoric. The minister accused the chair of being unruly. He felt her actions were unbecoming of a parliamentarian. The chair maintained that the minister did not have the floor. The minister insisted he did. He felt he had the right to answer the question asked. This disagreement over parliamentary procedure and the minister's right to speak became a focal point of the clash. The minister felt he was being addressed disrespectfully. He stated he had listened respectfully and expected the same in return. The committee chair eventually asked the minister to turn off his microphone. The minister appealed to the chair for the floor. He argued that if they were invited and asked a question, they should be allowed to answer fully. He stated the committee meeting should not be a monologue. Abena Osei Asare assured him he would be allowed to finish. She emphasized the seriousness of the issue. She explained her intention was not to demean anyone. She stated her role was to convey public sentiment. Minister George reiterated that his points align with this. He revealed that a policy direction was issued in January. This led to significant infrastructure plans. MTN is building 800 new cell sites. Telecel is constructing 350 new sites. Together, this totals 1,150 new sites for the year. This represents a substantial increase. The average number of new sites built annually from 2016 to 2023 was only 223. The current rollout shows a 500% jump. However, George explained the process takes time. Site acquisition and equipment procurement are complex. These are not items readily available like in a supermarket. Orders are placed with global manufacturers. Their arrival in Ghana takes time. Most mobile network operators (MNOs) expect their base transceiver station (BTS) devices between July and August. He stated that while requests were made and steps taken, equipment delivery causes delays. Customers will see network improvements once this equipment is deployed. He argued against expecting instant results after a decade of inaction. The minister emphasized that policy implementation requires patience. He expects improvements within three to six months. This timeline follows the January policy directive.