A brewing controversy has emerged over the ownership of GhanaWeb, one of Ghana’s leading online news platforms, following claims that the website was acquired under questionable circumstances, allegedly to benefit the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections.
On February 22, 2023, AfricaWeb Holding BV, the parent company of GhanaWeb, was sold to Protec Innovations Ltd. This company is owned by Maame Yaa Antwi, the wife of Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, who is a Member of Parliament for the Effiduase-Asokore Constituency representing the NPP.
This transaction allegedly granted Dr. Afriye control over the domain name ghanaweb.com.
The founder explained that the sale was intended to remove two Dutch shareholders who were allegedly planning a hostile takeover. Dr. Afriye reportedly purchased 100% of the shares for €1 million at a discounted rate, with an understanding that the founder would remain CEO and GhanaWeb’s editorial independence would be preserved.
However, these commitments were allegedly not honored, leading to concerns over the neutrality and objectivity of the platform.
Further allegations suggest that Dr. Afriye’s team only obtained ownership of the domain name, while the databases and software of GhanaWeb remain under the control of GhanaWeb BV, a separate entity still owned by the founder.
It is claimed that David Antwi, an associate of Dr. Afriye, bribed a key manager of GhanaWeb BV to gain unauthorized access to data and software, though this access was reportedly limited to the test environment.
Since January 23, 2024, ghanaweb.com has allegedly been operating using pirated software and content from GhanaWeb BV, raising legal and ethical concerns about its operations. The Dutch founder maintains that critical components such as SIL remain under his control and have not been compromised.
Neither Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, Maame Yaa Antwi, nor representatives from Protec Innovations Ltd. have publicly responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, industry observers are closely watching for potential legal actions or further clarifications on the matter.
This dispute raises broader concerns about media ownership, digital rights, and the editorial independence of online news platforms in Ghana.
Stakeholders in the media industry are calling for transparency and accountability to ensure that journalistic integrity is upheld amid the controversy.
