MoE to terminate SHSs Wi-Fi contract over connectivity challenges

The Ministry of Education (MoE) says it’s considering terminating aspects of the contract that enables Lift Logistics formerly Busy Internet to provide Wi-Fi internet service to government Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the country.

In a statement shared with Thisterm.com, the Education Ministry said the decision to terminate the aspects of the contract is based upon evaluation which indicates some schools are experiencing satellite connection challenges.

“The Ministry upon evaluation is considering terminating aspects of the contract in schools that are experiencing satellite connectivity challenges, a situation which had been attributed to the failure of Lifted Logistics’ Limited (formerly Busy Internet) to pay its providers,” the press statement signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson stated.

The contract termination comes after The Fourth Estate reported that despite Lift Logistics’ formerly Busy Internet failure to provide Wi-Fi internet service to public Senior High Schools, the government had paid them GH¢56 million.

In its investigative report sighted by Thisterm.com, The Estate said Accra Academy, Labone Senior High School, and Bolgatanga Girls have been without internet under the Busy Internet project for periods of up to 24 months.

According to the Fourth Estate, the above-mentioned Senior High Schools featured prominently on a list of government second-cycle schools whose internet services Lifted Logistics invoiced and received payments for.

“The company also received payments for St Mary’s SHS, Korle Gonno, Fafraha Community Day SHS, Ada Technical, Nungua SHS, Presby SHS, Teshie Presbyterian SHS, Ashaiman SHS, Kpedze SHS, Toase SHS, Bawku and Adugyama SHSs between 2020 and 2023 but all of these schools had no internet access for those years,” the Estate report noted.

However, the Ministry of Education has debunked The Fourth Estate’s report saying the Validation Committee set up by the Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum equally vets all invoices before payment is made to the vendor.

“For instance, in February 2024, despite an invoice of GH¢6,498,827.90 submitted, the Ministry ended up paying GH¢3,637,569.20 after vetting,” the Education Ministry said in a statement signed by its spokesman Kwasi Kwarteng.