INFORMATION REACHING the Business Chronicle from the Ministry of Communication indicates that the two transaction advisors on the privatization of Western Telesystems Telecommunications Limited (Westel), Data Bank and National Trust Holding Company (NTHC), have finished the first phase of selecting a strategic partner and the second phase would begin soon.

The first phase was for the two transaction advisors to do the initial evaluation of interests by the bidding companies.

The second phase would look at their presentation touching on their technical and financial competences.

It is believed that several companies from the West and South Africa had tendered in their bids.

Meanwhile, Business Day reported in its January 19, 2007 edition that Globacom Limited of Nigeria plans a mobile service in Ghana. In the report, Nigeria’s second national operator, Globacom Limited is putting finishing touches to plans to roll out commercial mobile service in Ghana.

The company denied earlier reports that it was in talk with Westel to acquire a major stake in it.

A source confirmed to the Business Chronicle that Globacom was not on the list of companies interested in being part owners of Westel.

The National Communication Authority is currently not involved with the selection of a strategic partner for the second national operator, Westel.

The government last year acquired the two-thirds equity share of ACG Telesystems Ghana in the company through the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC). Previously, the State owned one-third shares in the company.

The move now makes the government the sole shareholder of the nation’s two fixed-line telecommunications companies, having recently bought back the 30 per cent stake in Ghana Telecommunications Company (GhanaTelecom) it sold out to Telekom Malaysia.

Reports indicate that the total sum disbursed for both acquisitions was in excess of $150 million, but the sector Minister, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah, would not confirm the figure when his Ministry took its turn at the Meet-The-Press series in Accra last year.Westel, which was licensed to become the second national fixed-line operator to break the monopoly of GhanaTelecom, has, in the past years, been able to roll out less than 3,000 lines, thereby not being able to meet its target of about 100,000 lines per annum.

Chronicle