BY Issah Olegor
A storm of controversy has erupted over the government’s reported plans to merge AT Ghana (formerly AirtelTigo) with Telecel Ghana, following conflicting statements and actions from the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations.
On Wednesday, September 4, 2025, the sector Minister, Samuel Nartey George, met staff of AT Ghana at the company’s head office in Accra.
At the engagement, he announced that the government had taken a decision to merge AT with Telecel in a bid to rescue the struggling operator.
He explained that AT had recorded losses of more than $10 million in just eight months, making its continued operations unsustainable.
The Minister outlined a three-phase integration plan.
The first phase, Technical Network Integration, involved migrating AT subscribers onto Telecel’s network, a process he claimed was almost complete under the national roaming arrangement.
The second phase, Human Resource Integration, would see all 300 permanent staff of AT absorbed into the new entity by the end of September, while the fate of over 200 contract staff remained unclear.
The third phase, Commercial Restructuring, was expected to be completed within 120 days to establish the framework of the merged entity.
Sam George assured AT staff that their contracts would not be terminated, emphasizing:
“This is not a re-application process. It is a continuation of your contracts. Every one of you will be absorbed, unless you personally choose to leave.”
He argued that the merger was necessary to eliminate duplication, cut costs, and build a stronger competitor to MTN in the telecom market.
However, just two days later, on Friday, September 6, 2025, the Minister appeared to backtrack.
In a press briefing, he denied that a final decision had been taken on a merger or acquisition, insisting that government had only appointed KPMG as transaction advisors to study the options and advise on the way forward.
He described the situation as a case of “force majeure.”
This reversal raised eyebrows because, by that time, reports indicated that HR integration processes between AT and Telecel were already underway.
Moreover, the Ministry’s earlier social media posts announcing the merger had been deleted, even though screenshots and media reports of the initial announcement remain in circulation.
Critics argue that the contradictions raise serious questions about transparency and accountability in the handling of the transaction.
Industry watchers fear that the deal, if carried through, could reduce the telecom sector to a duopoly between MTN and the merged Telecel-AT entity, a move some believe could harm competition and consumer choice.
Concerns have also emerged about the role of Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Telecel Ghana, who is believed to be spearheading the deal.
Some industry insiders claim the transaction resembles an acquisition rather than a merger, with Telecel absorbing AT’s subscribers, staff, and infrastructure.
The controversy has spilled into the political arena, with allegations that the Minister boasted of securing the loyalty of Minority MPs on the Parliamentary Communications Committee through travel perks and other inducements, claims that, if true, would further erode public trust in the process.
However, lawyers, including Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah and Martin Kpebu, have been called upon by stakeholders to clarify the legal distinctions between a merger, acquisition, takeover, and force majeure in this context.
Despite the Minister’s assurances that the deal would safeguard jobs and strengthen the sector, civil society voices continue to push back.
