Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has strongly criticized the handling of Ghana’s 5G infrastructure project, calling it a questionable deal that lacks transparency.
His concerns were sparked by a high-profile engagement between the leadership of Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), Ghana’s sole 5G wholesale provider, and the newly appointed Acting Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko.
Simons expressed his disappointment at the NCA boss’s decision to focus on the controversial 5G project as one of his first major public engagements.
He questioned the rationale behind prioritizing a deal that has been widely criticized for its opacity and potential flaws.
“For real? All the other, more pressing, issues in the sector notwithstanding? There have been detailed analyses presented as to why that whole 5G gig is a big SCAM. No one has bothered to explain, certainly not the acting NCA Boss.”
Bright Simons
According to Simons, previous public statements claimed that reputable international investors were backing the 5G project.
However, investigations later revealed that these investors were not actual shareholders, and their names had been used to promote what he describes as a fraudulent scheme.
“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.”
Bright Simons
Questioning the Monopoly Model
Furthermore, Bright Simons raised concerns about the government’s approach to 5G expansion, arguing that forcing telecom companies to buy bandwidth from a single monopoly—NGIC—does not address the problem of market dominance.
He pointed out that despite government interventions, larger telecom providers have always maintained their market advantage.
He questioned how restricting all 5G purchases to a single wholesale provider would prevent dominant players from continuing to control 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?”
Bright Simons
Simons described the entire project as problematic, emphasizing that its structure benefits a select few while failing to deliver a sustainable, competitive, and transparent 5G network rollout for the country.
He urged policymakers to abandon the current model in favor of a fairer, more effective approach.“This whole monopoly mess, with shady owners, needs to be scrapped and a better model of pushing 5G adopted. Simples.”
The Need for Transparency and Competitive Practices
The criticism from Simons adds to growing skepticism about the government’s approach to 5G implementation.
Industry experts and civil society organizations have repeatedly raised red flags over the lack of transparency in how NGIC was selected as Ghana’s sole 5G provider.
Some analysts argue that a more competitive model—where multiple service providers are allowed to participate—would create a healthier telecommunications ecosystem.
Such a structure, they believe, would foster innovation, drive down prices, and ultimately benefit consumers and businesses alike.
On the other hand, government officials of the erstwhile NPP administration have defended the decision, stating that a centralized 5G wholesale provider will ensure efficient deployment and prevent unnecessary infrastructure duplication.
However, Simons and other critics insist that the model is fundamentally flawed, as it concentrates power in the hands of a few individuals whose identities and business interests remain largely undisclosed.
As debates continue, pressure is mounting on the government and regulatory authorities to provide clarity on the terms and conditions of the NGIC deal.
Calls for transparency, accountability, and a reevaluation of the current framework are growing louder.
Ghana’s digital future depends on a well-structured and competitive telecommunications sector.
Whether or not the government heeds these concerns will determine the success of its 5G rollout and its impact on the economy.
