Reports indicate that the State’s .gov.gh email system went down around 5:00 a.m. on 25 August, leaving government staff, security analysts, and the public concerned. Some have speculated about a possible cyberattack, given the sensitive nature of government communications.

Confirming the situation to MyJoyOnline.com, NITA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mark Oliver Kevor, attributed the outage to a “technical challenge” and said engineers are actively addressing it.

“There has been a technical challenge, which we are addressing with our technology partners,” he said. When asked for a timeline, Dr. Kevor added, “Not really. But joint technical teams are working on it.”

The disruption has significant implications. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that rely on the .gov.gh domain for official correspondence may have to resort to personal or alternative platforms, raising concerns over data privacy, service continuity, and operational efficiency.

The timing of the outage, amid rising cyberthreats in Africa, has further fueled speculation about the security of the email system. Experts warn that prolonged downtime could undermine confidence in government digital infrastructure, delay critical policy communication, and create openings for misinformation.

The incident may also intensify calls for stronger investments in cybersecurity, the development of more resilient government IT systems, and transparent communication protocols during such disruptions.

Source: Isaac Yeboah

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Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr Kevor said the move forms part of broader efforts to reposition NITA as a more autonomous and resource-driven institution.

“For some time, the regulatory framework was a bit weak, with focus mainly on operations and government ICT work. But after discussions with the Minister, we agreed on the need to strengthen NITA’s mandate. We are now transforming NITA from an agency into an authority,” he explained.

Mr Kevor disclosed that a bill is currently being prepared to expand NITA’s scope and empower it to operate independently of government subvention.

“A bill has been proposed to expand our mandate and scope of work,” he stated. “This will enable us to operate more efficiently and regulate the ICT sector with more authority.”

In the meantime, he revealed that NITA has directed the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to ensure that all ICT-related government procurement contracts are submitted to NITA for clearance and necessary testing.

He emphasized that this transition is vital for improving regulation, promoting efficiency, and ensuring sustainable funding to support Ghana’s growing digital infrastructure needs.

Source: Farida Seidu| Adomonline

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George has alleged that the previous Akufo-Addo administration entered into a third-party contract that diverts revenue away from NITA. According to him, although services run on NITA’s infrastructure, the revenue is channeled to a third-party firm, leaving only GHC25 in NITA’s account.

Describing the situation as a case of “state capture,” George stated:

“National Information Technology Agency (NITA), for example, has 25 Ghana Cedis, 8 pesewas as its bank balance at the Bank of Ghana. Meanwhile, the agency owes GHC813,486,505.89. This is the ministry we took over.”

However, in an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Thursday, Opoku accused George of misrepresenting the facts about NITA’s finances.

He explained that in January, the Minister for Finance directed the Controller and Accountant General to sweep funds from state agencies’ accounts as part of efforts to settle bonds. By February, all funds held on behalf of state agencies, including those at the Bank of Ghana, had been withdrawn.

Opoku revealed that on February 4, NITA’s management wrote to the Finance Minister, through the Minister for Communications, highlighting their financial obligations and the impact of the fund removal.

He also disputed George’s claim that NITA has an outstanding debt of GHC813 million, calling it inaccurate.

“I think that Sam George is being disingenuous. He is not being truthful to the Ghanaian people. He is aware that in January, the Minister for Finance, in an attempt to pay off bonds, instructed the Controller and Accountant General to sweep funds from state agencies’ accounts.

“So in February, the Controller and Accountant General removed all monies that were being held for and on behalf of state agencies, some by BoG.

“In fact, when that happened on February 4, the management of NITA wrote a letter to the Finance Minister through the Minister for Communications, explaining that they have obligations.

“…The Minister goes further to say that there is a huge debt hanging over the agency, which he knows is not true,” Opoku said.

The Mpraeso MP called for greater transparency and accountability in discussions about NITA’s finances, stressing the need for accurate information to guide public understanding and policy decisions.

This directive comes after the committee found his responses to the Auditor General’s concerns regarding a $16 million service contract between the Communications Ministry and Smart Infraco Limited to be unsatisfactory.

During the session, chaired by James Klutse Avedzi, the committee ordered Mr. Okyere-Fosu to provide comprehensive documentation, including letters, proposals, value-for-money reports, contracts, and invoices related to the Smart Infraco Limited deal.

A date will be scheduled for the Director-General to submit the requested documentation.

“I want a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Communication requesting SMART Infraco Limited to submit a proposal for the provision of this service. I need a copy of that letter from the Ministry of Communication. I also need the proposal submitted by SMART Infraco Limited, for the SMART Workplace Project.

“You wrote a letter to them, and they responded. They are in terms of a quota. I need a copy of their value-for-money reports on the SMART Workplace Project.”

“I also need copies or requests for quotations or proposals submitted by SMART Infraco to the following service provider contractors. Copies of evaluation and assessment reports of the SIL, then copies of both notification of award and acceptance letter. I also need a list of all MMBAs which have received support under the SMART Workplace Project. ”

“I also need copies of the signed completion certificate from NITA stating the full names and positions of the officers who signed the same. There may be three more. Copies of all invoices raised by the service providers. I need all this information.

“We will give you dates to come and appear before the committee and that date will be communicated to you by the committee through the class to the committee.”

“I want a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Communication requesting SMART Infraco Limited to submit a proposal for the provision of this service. I need a copy of that letter from the Ministry of Communication. I also need the proposal submitted by SMART Infraco Limited, for the SMART Workplace Project.

“You wrote a letter to them, and they responded. They are in terms of a quota. I need a copy of their value-for-money reports on the SMART Workplace Project.”

“I also need copies or requests for quotations or proposals submitted by SMART Infraco to the following service provider contractors. Copies of evaluation and assessment reports of the SIL, then copies of both notification of award and acceptance letter. I also need a list of all MMBAs which have received support under the SMART Workplace Project. ”

“We will give you dates to come and appear before the committee and that date will be communicated to you by the committee through the class to the committee.”

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PAC has ordered the vouchers totaling 54 must reach the Committee by the close of June 30, 2021.

According to the 2017 report of the Auditor-General, officials of NITA failed to produce documents to back some payments it made which is in breach of Regulation 1 of the Financial Administration Regulation, 2004.

Appearing before the Committee, the Director-General of NITA, Richard Okyere-Fosu, said they failed to produce the documents during the audit as a result of relocation to their new office.

But the justification did not sit well with members of PAC who described the conduct as unacceptable, following which the Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, issued the directive.

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Mr Avedzi added the committee was unhappy over the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful’s failure to accompany officials of NITA to the public hearing.

However, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mrs Magdalene Apenteng, told the Committee the Minister was on a presidential assignment.

NITA, therefore, has embarked on a massive education exercise to sensitise managements of the various MDAs on its operations and the need for them to pay their internet bills promptly to keep the Agency going.

The Agency as part of the sensitisation efforts held a breakfast meeting on Thursday in Accra for Chief Directors and Finance Directors of the various MDAs.

The breakfast session discussed how government could achieve its vision of transforming Ghana through Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Participants also discussed NITA as an implementing Agency of government ICT policy; NITA’S achievement, challenges and opportunities; interoperability and unified database systems across government agencies and the New NITA: restructuring NITA to provide better services to MDAs.

NITA is a public service institution established by Act 771 in 2008 as the ICT policy implementing arm of the Ministry of Communications and it is responsible for implementing Ghana’s Information Technology (IT) policies.

Its mandate includes identifying, promoting and developing innovative technologies, standards, guidelines and practices among government agencies and local governments.

Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Communications Minister, in her opening address said: “ICT is a critical component of today’s world economy, having permeated all sectors.”

“In Ghana, we believe that our capacity to compose in the global market greatly depends on the ability of our institutions and people to innovate and apply the relevant technology for growth and development,” she added.

She said government’s vision was to improve both the accuracy and speed of service delivery, provide fast, accurate and efficient service that were of good value for money, meet our aspirations and follow recognized best practices, and maximise the benefits of ICT for national development.

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said it was government’s policy to transform the service delivery of all public agencies to enable them become more efficient and productive.

She explained that to ensure that technology was applied in government; NITA had been mandated to implement government ICT initiatives in line with Act 771and Electronic Transactions Act (Act 772).

“NITA plays a facilitating role in ensuring the effective usage of ICT across MDAs within the government,” she said.

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said: “Public service delivery is challenged in so many ways, which conveys a wrong impression and poor image of the public service to the citizenry. This situation cannot continue.”

“Technology is an enabler of redefining success in our daily activities hence our deep involvement in using technology to re-engineer public service delivery.”

She said with the ongoing improvement of the connectivity infrastructure and technical expertise acquired, there would be a major improvement in the services provided by NITA.

The Minister said: “It is our common expectation that after completing all projects and initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry through NITA, it will go a long way to address all other shortcomings and help improve NITA’s service provision”.

“I call on government agencies yet to enrol on the NITA platform to get on board to contribute to the transformation of service delivery and governance in Ghana.”

Mr Joe Anokye, NITA Acting Director-General, urged MDAs to stop the notion that NITA was for government and therefore, there was no need for them to pay for the internet services the Agency was providing them.

He said NITA had to buy the internet data from the international market before supplying it to the MDAs and therefore, they should pay their bills promptly to ensure its continued operations.

Mr Anokye called on all MDAs, who were having any challenge with the use of their internet services to immediately draw the Agency’s attention to it.

He announced that the Agency would in July holds a similar meeting for heads of IT departments of MDAs.

Mr Kwaku Kyei Ofori, Deputy Acting Director-General, NITA, said the New NITA was committed to providing world class service to enhance Ghana’s productivity.

Mrs Veronica Boateng, Director of Applications, NITA said the Act which established NITA mandates it to provide leadership roles and directions in ICT.