Stop the 'rhetoric', Ghanaians must enjoy unlimited monthly internet data on fixed fee - MP to Sam George
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Mpraeso in the Eastern Region, Davis Opoku has reacted to the announcement by Sam Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, that he has intervened for telcos to introduce new data bundles effective July 1.
According to the MP, who is a member on the Information and Communications Select Committee of Parliament, that is not enough and that is not what Ghanaian consumers are asking for.
He insisted there existed opportunities for Ghanaians to enjoy unlimited monthly access to internet data on a fixed fee same as what is enjoyed elsewhere, and therefore urged the Minister of Communication to focus on initiating policies towards that and stay away from the "fanfare and propaganda."
"What the Ghanaian people want is for you to put in place the infrastructure, policies that will lessen their burden and not something that is imposed on something that everybody is benefiting, and so you organise a press conference to announce this," he stated in a radio interview with Citi FM monitored by Graphic Online on Tuesday evening [June 10, 2025]. He had been called for a reaction to the minister's announcement. Related article: Data costs may drop further as government reviews nearly 39% telecom tax - Sam George
He had explained the move followed extensive engagements with the chief executives of AT Ghana, Telecel Ghana Limited, and Scancom Ghana Limited (MTN Ghana), aimed at enhancing value for Ghanaian consumers while addressing operational challenges faced by the telecom sector.
But the Mpraeso MP, commonly referred to as OPK described minister Sam George's announcement at a press conference on Tuesday as a populist move and urged that he should move beyond the "rhetoric, fanfare and propaganda."
His argument is that, the reduction in the prices is hinged on the appreciation of the cedi following which the telcos had agreed to reduce prices.
To him, what consumers are asking for is to be able to pay a fixed monthly fee and enjoy unlimited monthly access to internet data.
"Well, we should be applauding the government if the demands of the ordinary Ghanaian were to be the reality. I mean we all know, today if we were to go to Abossey Okai [vehicle spare parts dealers hub], if you pass through Makola [market], if you go to Okaishie [market] because of the dollar, the appreciation of the [Ghana] cedi against the dollar, there are a lot of reduction in prices," he said.
"That is not what the Ghanaian people are asking of the Ministry of Communications or they want. What we are saying is that, why should we pay a lot more for data in our country. In the USA and United Kingdom for instance, you pay a fixed fee and get unlimited access to data, that is what the Ghanaian people are calling for, not a reduction of prices and for that matter an appreciation of the cedi and because the telcos have decided that because the cedi is appreciating we want to reduce prices so you come out to announce and think that you are doing something," he said.
He said "managing a ministry like the Ministry of Communications should go beyond the rhetoric, move beyond the fanfare, propaganda. What the Ghanaian people want is for you to put in place the infrastructure, policies that will lessen their burden and not something that is imposed on something that everybody is benefitting. And so you organise a press conference and ... I know that if we were to go to the NCA [National Communications Authority], the NCA has what they call the verification system that today, every Ghanaian gets the bill on what they spend. And so to say that you have put in place measures that for that matter, telcos are not going to cheat ordinary Ghanaians, that policy has [long] been implemented."
"There is a whole infrastructure at the National Communications Authority that is ensuring that there is billing verification for every Ghanaian, so if you spend GH¢1 and the telco charges you GH¢1.1, there is a system that flags it and the ministry or NCA questions the agency involved in doing that.
"And so it is not just about reduction in the prices of data, but what will be required of the government is that, what is happening elsewhere like the USA, like the UK, like the Germany and all of it, the Ghanaian should be made to pay a fixed amount every month and enjoy unlimited data services," he added and said that is what the youth is calling for.
Asked by his Citi FM interviewer, Umaru Sanda Amadu as to why his political party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which was in power for eight years was not able to do all that and why he will not give Sam George credit for what he has done by doing something, Mr Opoku's response was that, he has a responsibility to trumpet what the Ghanaian people want and it is not about being in government six months ago and tasking his [NPP] government to have done a,b,c or d or not.
He said that is why he belongs to the opposition and that he has a responsibility to provide "checks and balances" on the government. "if the dollar goes down and there is reduction of prices and you organise a press conference and create the impression that you have done something extraordinary, I have a responsibility to point that to you."
"I am telling you, that listening to the Ghanaian and the ordinary person on the street, what they want is not something that is urged on the appreciation of the cedi, no, that is not what they want. What is happening elsewhere, what others are enjoying elsewhere, a fixed amount, you pay GH¢2, GH¢20 a month, and you enjoy unlimited access to data, that is what the Ghanaian people want."
It is not just about, because of the appreciation of the cedi, you want to organise a press conference and create an impression that you [Sam George] have done something. 'That is not what you have done." he said.
Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh
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