NITA Scandal: Sam George Accuses Previous Administration of Diverting Funds
Accra, Ghana - 25 March, 2025 - Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has levelled explosive allegations against the previous administration, accusing them of orchestrating a clandestine contract that siphons revenue from the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) into the coffers of a third-party firm.
On Monday, March 24, Minister Sam George characterized the alleged financial mismanagement as a blatant example of state capture during a press briefing.
According to Sam George, NITA's infrastructure is being utilised to generate substantial revenue, but instead of benefiting the agency, the funds are being diverted to a private company, leaving NITA with a paltry 25 Ghana Cedis in its account.
He disclosed that the agency, meanwhile, is saddled with a staggering debt of GHC813,486,505.89.
“National Information Technology Agency (NITA), for example, has 25 Ghana Cedis, 8 pesewas as its bank balance at the Bank of Ghana. Meanwhile, the agency owes GHC813,486,505.89. This is the ministry we took over,” he lamented.
According to him, he has summoned the third-party vendor involved in the contract for questioning, vowing to unravel the intricacies of the alleged scheme.Sam George also claimed that he has also refused to approve a payment of almost four million Ghana Cedis to the private company, instead referring the matter to the Attorney General.
“NITA has a certain contract arrangement with a third-party vendor. I have summoned that third-party vendor to appear before me tomorrow because I do not understand how all the revenue coming to NITA is being redirected. The previous administration signed a contract that diverts all of these funds, giving them to a third party,” he alleged.
“The payment for services using NITA’s infrastructure, which I was supposed to approve to a third-party company, was almost four million Ghana Cedis. I have refused to sign it and have referred it to the Attorney General.
“I will not authorise such payments until I understand why NITA is not receiving a dime while a private sector player is using NITA’s infrastructure and earning almost four million Ghana Cedis. Meanwhile, all the debt is sitting on NITA’s books while the revenue goes to the private sector,” he stated.
Sam George has described the situation as a "true definition of state capture," and has pledged to provide a detailed briefing to Parliament on the alleged financial mismanagement within the ministry.
“The ministry is a true definition of state capture. I will come to the house and brief the house extensively on the rot in the ministry.”
Source: Lead News Online
