Outspoken social commentator and founding president of IMANI-Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has demanded the swift termination of the controversial KelniGVG contract initiated by Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, despite the change in government.
Expressing his disappointment at the ongoing engagement and payments to KelniGVG, Cudjoe is adamant that the Mahama government should not wait until 2028 for the contract to end, but should act decisively now.
The private firm KelniGVG signed the contentious contract in 2018 with the Akufo-Addo government under Minister for Communication Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, aimed at monitoring revenues from telecommunication companies.
IMANI was among the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that strongly opposed the contractual agreement, criticizing the implementation process as a potential scam.
KelniGVG was tasked under the contract to develop and implement a common platform for various monitoring and management services, which according to IMANI were already being covered by other entities.
Following the government’s announcement in April 2025 that the contract with KelniGVG would not be renewed due to high operational costs, Cudjoe remains unsatisfied and calls for an immediate termination of the agreement.
Cudjoe questions the justification behind the significant monthly payments to KelniGVG, amounting to US$1.5 million, expressing doubts about the transparency and effectiveness of the firm’s operations.
In a firm stance against what he views as a potential scam, Cudjoe urges the Minister and the Attorney General to cancel the contract and seek restitution for the funds paid to KelniGVG.