The Member of Parliament (MP) for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, has accused the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, of misleading the public about the financial situation of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA).
George had claimed that the previous Akufo-Addo administration had entered into a third-party contract that diverts revenue from NITA. He stated that while services run on NITA’s infrastructure, the revenue is directed to a third-party firm, leaving only GHC25 in NITA’s account.
Describing the situation as “state capture,” George added: “The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) has 25 Ghana Cedis, 8 pesewas in its bank balance at the Bank of Ghana. Meanwhile, the agency owes GHC813,486,505.89. This is the ministry we inherited.”
However, Opoku, in an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Thursday, accused George of misrepresenting the facts regarding NITA’s finances.
He explained that in January, the Minister for Finance directed the Controller and Accountant General to sweep funds from state agencies’ accounts to help settle bonds. By February, all funds held for state agencies, including those at the Bank of Ghana, had been withdrawn.
Opoku revealed that on February 4, NITA’s management wrote to the Finance Minister through the Minister for Communications, outlining their financial obligations and the impact of the fund removal.
He also refuted George’s claim that NITA owes GHC813 million, calling it incorrect.
“Sam George is being disingenuous. He’s not telling the truth to the Ghanaian people. He knows that in January, the Minister for Finance instructed the Controller and Accountant General to sweep funds from state agencies’ accounts to pay bonds,” Opoku said.
“When that happened in February, NITA’s management wrote to the Finance Minister through the Minister for Communications to explain the impact of the removal on their obligations.
“The Minister further claims there is a huge debt hanging over the agency, but that is simply not true,” Opoku added.
The Mpraeso MP called for more transparency and accountability in discussions about NITA’s finances, emphasizing the importance of accurate information for guiding public understanding and policy decisions.
