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Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has distanced himself and his administration from a controversial GH¢6.7 million payment made to Smart Infraco Limited in December 2023. Speaking during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Accra on Monday, November 3, 2025, Sam George described the transaction as one he would not “superintend over,” insisting that it occurred under his predecessor. The payment, amounting to GH¢6,755,174.94, was made by the Ministry for a connectivity platform project. However, auditors have raised concerns about the transaction, citing a lack of supporting documents, proof of work done, or justification for the expenditure. Sam George unveils enhanced DStv packages for Ghanaian subscribers “Just so that the records bear us out, this did not happen under Sam George but at the Ministry by my predecessor in 2023,” he stated. Sam George explained that his ministry has taken steps to ensure accountability and transparency, adding that the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), the implementing body, has since been asked to submit all relevant documentation. “We won’t superintend over such action, but we have followed up, and NITA has submitted the project closure report, which has been forwarded to the Audit Service for verification,” he said. He further disclosed that the Ministry is awaiting the Audit Service’s findings before drawing any final conclusions. “If they verify the amount, that will bring closure. But if they raise queries, we will need to dig further into the matter,” he added. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, disclosed that Smart Infraco had denied receiving the said payment as captured in the Auditor-General’s report. The company, he noted, claimed that the transaction was linked to a different project and not part of the e-government commercialisation contract. Responding to the company’s position, Sam George reaffirmed his commitment to public accountability. “My fidelity is to the state, not to any company. What forms the base material for my decision-making is the Auditor-General’s report, not a company’s rendition or response. If any private company has challenges with the report, they can seek redress in court,” he stressed.
