By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Minority in Parliament has expressed serious reservations over the planned restructuring between AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana, describing the deal as financially risky and potentially harmful to Ghana’s telecom industry.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, disclosed that Telecel’s debt burden of over USD $400 million poses a major threat to the viability of the partnership.
“It is technically, operationally, and financially unconscionable. Telecel has no exclusive expertise that the staff or management of AT do not possess. Telecel’s indebtedness of over USD $400 million means it only seeks to benefit from AT’s over three million customers,” Mr Nyindam said.
He warned that allowing a heavily indebted company to assume control of a strategic national asset could destabilize AT’s operations and disadvantage millions of low-income subscribers who rely on its affordable services.
The Minority further argued that the arrangement risks creating a monopoly-like environment, limiting consumer choice and potentially increasing tariffs if Telecel fails to inject fresh capital into operations.
“The planned annihilation of AT by Telecel will rob Ghanaians of choice and the much-needed competition within the telecom industry,” the caucus cautioned.
They also raised transparency and legal concerns, questioning why the deal has not been subjected to parliamentary approval as required by law, and described it as an attempt to “dispose of a national asset to fill private pockets.”
However, the Minority insists the USD $400 million debt exposure leaves the state vulnerable, weakens the sector’s competitiveness, and erodes the long-term value of a key national telecom asset.
The government is expected to release further details on the Telecel–AT restructuring plan after receiving recommendations from the appointed transaction advisor.
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