The Ministry of Communications and Digital Technology has announced it will terminate its contract with Kelni GVG, the firm overseeing Ghana’s telecom revenue monitoring, once the current agreement expires.
At a press briefing in Accra today, Wednesday, April 9, Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George said the contract’s rising cost burden has made it financially unsustainable.
“We are spending more on monitoring revenues than we are retaining. This is unacceptable,” Mr. George said.
Kelni GVG has managed the Common Monitoring Platform (CMP) since 2018 to track inbound international calls and reduce telecom revenue leakages.
However, Mr. George revealed that the cost of the contract has surged from 28% of monitored revenue at inception to 84% as of October 2024.
“This contract has become unsustainable for the state,” he added.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) will assume all monitoring responsibilities moving forward.
Mr. George said the NCA has been directed to prepare for a smooth handover, including conducting an operational audit of Kelni GVG’s system.
“We’re committed to a seamless transition and better value for public funds,” he noted.
The $89 million deal with Kelni GVG has drawn some controversial criticism for years now.
Some of the criticized concerns are, IMANI Africa challenged its cost-effectiveness and transparency, Parliament raised concerns about the procurement process and telecom operators cited operational inefficiencies.
Mr. George pledged stricter accountability under the NCA, saying future telecom monitoring will emphasize transparency, efficiency, and value for money.
“Every cedi must work harder for the people of Ghana,” he concluded.
By: J.W Quarm
