LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Vodafone Group PLC (VOD.LN) Thursday welcomed the government of Ghana's statement on a report about its acquisition of a 70% stake in Ghana Telecommunications last year, and said it will re-engage with the government about the future of Vodafone GT.
Vodafone GT is a partnership between Vodafone, the world's biggest mobile operator by revenue and Ghana's government.
"Vodafone looks forward to a constructive re-engagement with the government to find ways that Vodafone can support Ghana's goals even more in future. Vodafone is pleased to note the Government's statement that it will not abrogate or renegotiate the agreement," Vodafone said in a statement.
The report was undertaken by Ghana's Inter-Ministerial Review Committee. In recent weeks there had been mounting press speculation that Ghana may revoke the sale or ask Vodafone for more money.
Vodafone bought a 70% stake in Ghana Telecom, the nation's third-biggest mobile phone network, for $900 million in July 2008.
In May, Vodafone wrote down the value of its stake in Ghana Telecom by GBP250 million as the economic environment deteriorated, damaging the unit's prospects.
At 1034 GMT, Vodafone shares were up 2 pence, or 1.6%, at 138 pence, valuing the company at GBP72.61 billion. The FTSE 100 index was down 0.6%.
-By Lilly Vitorovich, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-0-207 842 9290; lilly.vitorovich@dowjones.com