News

The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has contacted Vodafone regarding its purchase of Ghana Telecom last year.



Richard Alderman, director of the SFO spoke to Stephen Scott, head of Vodafone’s legal affairs.



Vodafone bought 70% of Ghana’s national telecom company in April 2009. Although Vodafone agreed to pay USD900 million, the government of Ghana received less than 30% of that figure because of “a series of complicated financial arrangements”, according to a review of the sale, commissioned by the government of Ghana.



The sale was endorsed by Ghana’s parliament despite opposition from various corners of Ghanian society.



At this stage, the UK SFO has not decided to investigate the deal, but is considering the allegations made in Ghana of irregularity.



Vodafone has denied these allegations.



Vodafone also came under fire earlier in the year for making almost 1,000 of its staff in Ghana redundant.