Sam George, Abena Osei-Asare Trade Words Over Poor Network Service at PAC

Public frustration over poor mobile network services turned into a political showdown in Parliament on Monday after Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George and Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, Abena Osei-Asare, openly clashed over who should take responsibility for Ghana’s telecom problems.

The confrontation erupted during a Public Accounts Committee sitting, where some members of the committee raised concerns about delays in fixing telecom faults and worsening network quality experienced by subscribers across the country.

What began as a discussion on poor service delivery quickly shifted into a blame game over years of regulation and oversight in the telecom sector.

Sam George argued that telecom companies were operating mainly for profit and suggested that previous leadership failed to properly regulate the industry to protect consumers.

“Private businesses are about making profits,” the minister told the committee while defending current government efforts to improve service delivery.

But Abena Osei-Asare repeatedly attempted to steer the discussion back to the specific issue before the committee, insisting consumers were more interested in solutions than political explanations.

“I am not heckling you, but we beg you, just go straight to the point,” she told the minister.

The interruption visibly angered Sam George, who accused the PAC chairperson of cutting him off and preventing him from making his point.

“Respectfully, let me land,” he fired back as tensions escalated in the chamber.

The incident comes at a time of growing complaints from telecom subscribers over unstable internet connectivity, dropped calls and delays in resolving technical faults, especially from major network operators.