Sam George, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, has jabbed the former Akufo-Addo government over the hyped of 5G services launched by Next-Gen.
According to Sam George, the Akufo-Addo government’s claim of 5G was just a smoke screen and gaslighting.
He boldly asserted that Ghana has no 5G service in the country.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series on August 1, 2025, Sam George stated, “We have no 5G service in the country. The previous government’s claim of 5G was just a smoke screen and gaslighting”.
“Let’s just say it was a smokescreen and voicemail. There was actually no fact. Even that day at the centre where they launched, there was no 5G network, and there’s no 5G anywhere. If there were 5G, I haven’t directed the NCA or NGIC to turn off any 5G site; we would have seen it.”
Sam George further revealed that Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC) has received all the necessary approvals, but he declined their request for an additional licence for ISPs.
He noted, “NGIC have received all the necessary approvals; in fact, last two weeks, I gave the final connecting entity license approval for MNOs. They are asking for an additional licence for ISPs, which I have declined.”
“You have a license and have had it for almost three years. At the very least, I have given you the authority and regulatory approval to connect with MNOs. Focus on that and roll out with MNOs.”
He indicated, “Failure by NGIC to roll out full commercial activity by the end of quarter four this year will lead to me terminating the terms of that contract, taking away the exclusivity clause and opening up for fresh negotiations.”
It will be recalled, former Communications and Digitalisation minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful fired shots at Ghanaians, questioning the 5G service availability on their phones.
Speaking to the media before President Akufo-Addo delivered his final State of the Nations Address (SONA), Ursula stated, “People didn’t listen when we were launching it, it is a wholesale infrastructure, we have built it, it is now up to the telecom companies to buy capacity from it and deliver it on to their subscribers.
“I have done my part; the rest of it is left with the TELCOs and NGIs, I know I have delivered on my mandate”, she boldly added.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful advised Ghanaian mobile network users to hold their service providers accountable for failing to launch the 5G network by 31 December this year.
Meanwhile, Vice-President IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has stated that the shady 5G monopoly mess by the former Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Next Gen Infraco must be scrapped.
He noted that the monopoly mess, with shady owners, needs to be scrapped and a better model of pushing 5G adoption.
According to Bright Simons, there have been detailed analyses presented as to why that whole 5G gig with the Next Gen Infraco is a big scam.
He stated, “The prominent international shareholders that were publicly announced turned out NOT to be shareholders at all. Their brands were used to promote a clear SCAM.
The whole concept of the 5G project doesn’t make sense. The claim is that when we allowed the telcos to invest on their own to upgrade from 2G to 3G and then to 4G, the biggest telcos seized a large share of the market. So this time, telcos will be forced to buy 5G capacity from a shady monopoly instead. How does that stop any telco from maintaining its monopoly? How?
This whole monopoly mess, with shady owners, needs to be scrapped and a better model of pushing 5G adoption. Simples”, he added.
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The previous government's claim of 5G was just a smoke screen and gaslighting – Sam George, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology & Innovation#MetroNews pic.twitter.com/Ny2ehlCIbp
— Metro TV Ghana (@metrotvgh) August 1, 2025