Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful says the introduction of the Common Platform (CP) has been worthwhile, as it will save government a total of GHS1.5 billion in the next five years.
The introduction of the CP sparked controversy when the government moved to award the contract to Kelni GVG.
Prior to this contract, the government was paying an amount of US$ 2.5 million to Subah Info Solutions Limited for the exercise.
However, the government is paying KelniGVG US$ 1.4 million annually for advanced services.
Addressing the press today, Monday, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful stated that the government has been vindicated.
“It is evidence of less cost and more value for the state. It resulted in monthly savings of US$ 1.1 million over the previous contract. And I must say that, a common platform provides the saving of US$ 1.1 million per month on those previous contract because it costs us US$ 1.4 million for both agencies in that sector and so over the last time of the five year contract, it will result in a savings of 66 million dollars to the state.”
KelniGVG was given an $89 million contract to develop and oversee the Common Platform for the country.
The implementation of the Common Platform is in line with the Communication Service Tax (Amendment) Act, 2013, Act 864.
One of the key concerns with the deal has to do with possible privacy breaches.
Gov’t sued
Two citizens sued the government over the traffic monitoring, revenue assurance and mobile money monitoring Common Platform.
The two, Sara Asafu-Adjaye and Maximus Amertogoh, were seeking an order restraining the government from implementing the Common Platform.
Joined to the suit was the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the Ghana Revenue Authority, the National Communications Authority, along with three telecom communications companies.