MP Alleges Fraud In International Call Monitoring Deal
The Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, Kwaku Kwarteng, is alleging that the Communications Ministry has ‘criminally’ engaged another company to monitor international calls leading to a massive financial loss to the state.
According to him, government’s decision to engage Afriwave Telecoms to do the same monitoring that Subah Info Solutions is already doing is contrary to the laws of the country.
Below is a copy of his letter to the Minister for Communications
CRIMINAL DOUBLE PAYMENTS FOR MONITORING OF INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE TRAFFIC
I refer to the statutory policy of government to monitor incoming international telephone traffic for the purpose of revenue assurance.
Communications Service Tax (Amendment) Actof2013states that: “The Minister [for Finance] in collaboration with the Minister responsible for communications shall ensure that a common platform is used for the purpose of monitoring revenues under this Act as well as revenues accruing from levies under the Electronic Communications (Amendment)Act 2009, (Act 786)”
For the avoidance of doubt, the levies under the Electronic Communications (Amendment) Act 2009being referred to are the levies on incoming international telephone traffic.
In accordance with this law, government, of which you (Minister for Communications) are a cabinet member, has signed a contract with a private company, Subah Info Solutions to monitor both the communications service tax and the levies on incoming international telephone traffic.
Parliament has been informed that the contract ends in May 2016. On the basis of this contract, government, through the Ghana Revenue Authority, is paying money to Subah Info Solutions.
In spite of this, you have(through the National Communications Authority) directed network providers
to allow another private company, Afriwave Telecom Ltd, access to theirfacilities for Afriwave to dothe same monitoring that Subah Info Solutions is already doing.
Right now, both Subah and Afriwave have their devices inserted into the billing nodes of network providers, with Afriwave claiming they have also been authorised to do the same revenue monitoring.
It is obvious that the motive for this wasteful duplication is for Afriwave, a company in which you are suspected to have personal interest, to receive already scarce public funds.
And this is coming at a time when national finances are in considerable distress. I wish to prompt you that this wasteful and deliberate duplication is criminal.
Indeed, any officer of the Ministry of Communications or National Communications Authority or any government official whose action or inaction enables such duplication of payment is criminally causing financial loss to the state.
I urge you and the National Communications Authority to withdraw your directive to network providers regarding Afriwave for your own sake and for the sake of the public purse.
Kwaku Kwarteng (MP, Obuasi West Constituency)
CC:
(i) The President of Ghana, Accra
(ii) The Minister for Finance, Accra
(iii) Attorney General, Accra
(iv) Director General, National Communications Authority,Accra
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