The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, clarified that his criticisms of Bryan Acheampong, owner of Rock City Hotel and Minister of Agriculture, are not personal.
Ablakwa’s concerns arose from the controversial sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s (SSNIT) 60% shares in four hotels to Rock City Hotel.
His opposition led to the disclosure of transaction details and prompted SSNIT to halt the sale amid threats of a strike by Organised Labour.
Following Rock City Hotel’s withdrawal from the bid, Organised Labour canceled their planned strike. In an interview on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV, Ablakwa reiterated his longstanding opposition to what he termed “state capture.”
He criticized the practice of selling state assets to individuals, asserting that it often fails to benefit the country and brings no tangible advantages.
“Why would anybody make this just about Hon Bryan Acheampong? That it is probably something personal or I have some personal hatred for him. He has been saying it, this is not about hatred, it’s not about singling out one person. I have been consistent, and I have always opposed this state capture, this sale of state assets.
“And if you look at the history since 24th February 1966, virtually all the regimes have been engaged in these sales. What has come out of it? We have seen a pattern where public officials deliberately run down state assets and then turn around to buy them. If these hotels are not good for all of us, why should they be good for you? Why should they be good for one person?”
“If Hon Bryan Acheampong is such a great hotelier, hotelier extraordinaire, the best the world has ever known and has all the acumen, the expertise to turn hotels around. Why can’t he bring it to bear now that he’s in cabinet, and his government is in power?
“He has all the influence. He will only bring that expertise to bear when the hotel becomes his. When he has controlling shares, 60%.”
Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has advocated for the halt of all budgetary allocations to the Black Stars.
This suspension, he suggests, should pave the way for an impartial forensic audit of the expenditures related to their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Ablakwa emphasised that this suspension of financial allocations should extend to the current efforts to seek a new head coach, replacing Chris Hughton.
The call for an independent forensic audit reflects concerns about the transparency and accountability of the funds allocated to the national football team during the AFCON tournament.
“It is clear to me that the only way out of this grand mess is to immediately curtail any further expenditure on the Black Stars, including that ill-advised, rushed and misguided search for a new coach, and to urgently commission an independent forensic audit.
“Parliament must also assert its constitutional oversight authority when the House resumes. These outlandish breakdowns, illegalities and insulting opacity must be probed and sanctioned; we cannot afford to let the people down.”
His unwavering stance follows his interception of letters purportedly from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Finance Minister, and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department detailing the expenditure of the Black Stars during their unsuccessful AFCON campaign in Cote d’Ivoire.
On Monday, the lawmaker shared a letter from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to the Finance Ministry, requesting a substantial amount of US$8 million as a budget, causing public outcry.
Subsequently, on January 30, he released two documents claiming to confirm payments of the requested amount. One document, supposedly from the Minister for Finance to the Controller and Accountant General, instructed the release of a partial payment of US$5,071,840.36, equivalent to GHS60,306,717.80, out of the budgeted US$8,506,450.00.
The document detailed expenses, including GHS15.3 million for the Black Stars’ preparation days before AFCON, GHS14 million for air transport and per diem, GHS14 million for provision for Group stage bonuses, and GHS2.1 million for honorarium.
A bank transfer advice from the Controller and Accountant General confirmed the release of funds to the Ministry of Sports.
Ablakwa also alleged the existence of a separate budget for the supporters of the Black Stars, further adding to the controversy surrounding the team’s financial management.
“Deep throat sources inform me that the budget was managed by National Security. Nothing will stop us from demanding full accountability on this too,” he noted.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) reacted to the publication of the budget by the legislator, calling it cheap politics.
“He should concentrate on his job of passing bills in Parliament and stop engaging in small, cheap politics in football. It is not the best,” Nana Oduro Sarfo, an Executive Council member of the GFA is quoted as saying by JoyNews.
The court has scheduled January 17, 2024, as the date for the plea of two individuals who are currently remanded for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting Ghanaians by impersonating Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of North Tongu.
This decision followed their second appearance at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, where they were remanded once again. Promise Ahorgah, a phone repairer, and Kwaotse Mawuli, a building construction labourer, allegedly created social media accounts in the name of the MP to fraudulently solicit funds for victims affected by the Akosombo and Kpong Dam Spillage.
The accused were arrested on December 13 and are facing six provisional counts, including defrauding by false pretenses, charlatanic advertisement, and falsely pretending to be a public officer. On December 15, the court did not accept their plea, citing ongoing investigations.
Brief facts:
Per the brief facts of the case, the complainant in this case is the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and a resident of Accra.
It states that the first accused person is a mobile phone repairer, while the second accused person is a building construction labourer.
The prosecution said following the Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillage and the flooding of certain parts of the Volta Region, the complainant developed a flyer with the inscription ‘North Tongu MP’s Disaster Donation Drive,’ with a short code of *713*75#, requesting good Samaritans to donate in aid of the flood victims.
The prosecution stated that the 1st and 2nd accused persons, with intent to defraud, took copies of the complainant’s flyer on Facebook, modified the flyer, and inserted their respective phone numbers in the modified flyer.
“Holding themselves out as the complainant and causing the general public to wrongly believe they were the complainant, the 1st and 2nd accused persons published the fake and deceitful flyers on social media platforms requesting the general public to make cash donations into their mobile phone numbers 0535623416 and 0535364971, respectively, which each of the accused persons had stated on the fake and deceitful flyers,” the prosecution said.
The brief facts added that the 1st and 2nd accused persons again used the names and photographs of the complainant to create several social media accounts, personated the MP, and communicated with several people to solicit donations into their mobile money accounts.
“Through their acts of personation and publication of deceitful advertisements with the intent to defraud, the 1st and 2nd accused persons succeeded in causing members of the public to send to them sums of money,” the Court was told.
The Prosecution said the complainant, who chanced on the fake flyer on social media, petitioned the National Signals Bureau and the accused persons were arrested.
Both 1st and 2nd accused persons admitted to the offences when interrogated.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has promised a full university scholarship to one Gertrude, who has been offering free tutoring to students affected by the Akosombo dam spillage.
Gertrude received a laptop from Mr Ablakwa during a surprise visit.
In a Twitter post on October 28, the North Tongu MP extolled “the young lady “inspiring” Gertrude for prioritising the future of the children affected above her comfort despite being affected by the flood.
“She is the first to put her own displacement misery aside and organize free classes for kids living with her in the Mepe St. Kizito Camp after they were all displaced by the VRA-induced floods,” he wrote.
He added: “This crisis has revealed how our nation is blessed with many awesome angels.”
Yesterday I surprised the inspiring young Gertrude with a laptop gift.
She is the first to put her own displacement misery aside and organize free classes for kids living with her in the Mepe St. Kizito Camp after they were all displaced by the VRA-induced floods.
Many residents along the Lower Volta Basin have witnessed their homes and farmlands submerged by floods caused by the spillage of the Akosombo dam by the Volta River Authority (VRA).
Communities like Battor, Tefle, Mepe, Sogakope, Adidome, and Anlo have been inundated.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has accused President Akufo-Addo of being delusional and insulting by claiming to have a superior track record in the fight against corruption.
Ablakwa was reacting to the President’s recent speech on his anti-corruption efforts during the Ghana Bar Conference held in Cape Coast on Monday, September 11, 2023.
President Akufo-Addo touted his administration’s accomplishments in the battle against corruption. He cited the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), the Witness Protection Act, 2018 (Act 975), and the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1034) as evidence of his commitment to combatting corruption.
In his speech, the President said he has taken several measures to combat corruption, such as establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor, passing the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), the Witness Protection Act, 2018, (Act 975), and the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, 2020, (Act 1034).
“I accepted the invitation to speak here in order to take advantage of this occasion to place, once again, my government’s record on corruption for public scrutiny. It will show that my government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiatives since our nation attained independence, nearly sixty-six (66) years ago, to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector.
“…so far, every single alleged act of corruption levelled against any of my appointees has been investigated by independent bodies, such as CHRAJ, the CID, and, in some cases, by Parliament itself. It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. That is the job of the courts and the law enforcement agencies. My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and action, including, if necessary, the suspension of the affected official, pending the conclusion of investigations. That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January, 2017,” the president said.
However, Ablakwa dismissed these claims as mere rhetoric and propaganda, and challenged the President to account for the US$58 million he allegedly spent on digging a pit for the construction of the National Cathedral.
But the bombshell revelation that has got many talking is Ablakwa’s disclosure regarding the ongoing thefts plaguing the hallowed National Cathedral construction site. According to his “unimpeachable sources,” the site has fallen victim to a spree of thefts.
“The cathedral theft continues with latest information from my unimpeachable sources indicating that tonnes of steel (rebars), a project vehicle and a flat screen television in the project manager’s office are part of the growing list of items which have recently been stolen from this supposedly holy construction site — an abandoned project site which is strangely also under national security protection and yet recording major incidents of plunder,” Ablakwa wrote on his Twitter page.
Ablakwa said these incidents expose the President’s hypocrisy and incompetence in dealing with corruption, and urged him to stop deceiving the public with his empty promises.
“President Akufo-Addo must certainly be delusional. It is such an insult to hear the only President in the world who has dug a pit with US$58million and still managed to owe his cathedral contractors an extra US$52million tout an imaginary superior track record in the fight against corruption,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo must certainly be delusional.
It is such an insult to hear the only President in the world who has dug a pit with US$58million and still managed to owe his cathedral contractors an extra US$52million tout an imaginary superior track record in the fight… pic.twitter.com/Dvwz8aCGXj
Following the swift ousting of former Gabonese President Ali Bongo by a military junta, doubts have been raised about the effectiveness of Bongo’s international appeal for support. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament representing the North Tongu constituency, has brought attention to Bongo’s recent actions that seem to contradict his call for assistance.
Ablakwa’s criticism stems from the fact that shortly before his removal from office, Bongo had undertaken measures that included the shutdown of internet services and the banning of several critical media outlets, such as RFI, TV Monde, and France 24. These actions have ignited skepticism about the viability of Bongo’s plea for international backing, as effective outcry and noise require unimpeded access to information and communication platforms, including the internet and media channels.
In a tweet posted on August 30, 2023, Ablakwa articulated his concerns, stating, “Gabon’s Ali Bongo who is calling for noise appears to have forgotten that a few days ago he shut down the internet & banned critical media such as RFI, TV Monde & France 24. How can noise make an impact without media & internet? True Democracy benefits both rulers & the ruled.”
In the aftermath of the coup that led to his removal, former President Ali Bongo released a video message in which he appealed for international intervention. The message was disseminated through social media via a 51-second video clip, where Bongo can be seen speaking from an undisclosed location within the presidential palace.
Expressing urgency, Bongo implored his international allies to “make noise” in protest against his arrest, which had taken place in the early hours of Wednesday, August 30. Bongo’s plea was accompanied by his acknowledgment that he is currently isolated within the palace, with his wife detained separately, and his son apprehended by the junta.
As the situation unfolds in Gabon, questions linger over the practical impact of Bongo’s call for support in the face of media censorship and internet shutdowns, leaving observers to weigh the potential outcomes of international responses against the backdrop of restricted information flow.
Member of Parliament representing North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has put forth a claim, supported by documentation, indicating that a company not previously registered in Ghana was included in the Bank of Ghana’s shortlist for the construction of its new office complex.
In an extensive Facebook post dated August 17, Ablakwa provided a detailed account of several aspects related to the project. He covered its inception, the procurement procedures involved, and the fluctuating nature of the project’s financial estimate.
Ablakwa disclosed that the project’s initial cost was above US$81 million, which subsequently ballooned to US$121 million within a mere eight months. Furthermore, he highlighted that the currently stated cost of US$250 million, as cited by the Minority in Parliament, might potentially be surpassed based on the information he possesses.
He revealed that the Bank of Ghana had obtained approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to employ a restricted tendering process for selecting contractors. As a result, five foreign companies were identified:
His post read in part: “It is not clear what criteria the BoG used in selecting its preferred 5 companies when Ghana’s built environment can boast of many established and celebrated construction firms such as Consar, Berock, Maripoma, Mawums, M. Barbisotti, First Sky, Antartic, Ussuya, Regimanuel, and so on and so forth;
“In a bizarre twist, further investigations reveal that one of the BoG’s 5 “ordained” companies: Messrs. Ronesans Holdings is not registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies.
“How did an unregistered company qualify to participate in a restricted tender?” he asked
Ablakwa further alleged that he had intercepted an additional letter dated September 4, 2020, also bearing the signature of the Acting Chief Executive of the PPA, Mr. Frank Mantey. This letter astonishingly revealed that within a mere span of 8 months, the cost of the Bank of Ghana’s Head Office project experienced a staggering surge, escalating from US$81,882,640.00 to US$121,078,517.94.
The facility, currently evaluated at US$250 million as per the Minority in Parliament, has sparked considerable responses ever since the central bank confirmed its endeavor to construct a new head office.
Responding to a press statement issued by the minority last week, the Bank of Ghana emphasized that the new office complex was primarily necessitated by security and other factors. The bank highlighted concerns that the current location could prove unsafe in the event of an earthquake.
Ablakwa’s public disclosure is the most recent development in the mounting pressure being directed towards the leadership of the Bank of Ghana, headed by Ernest Addison.
The Minority has called for Addison’s resignation, along with those of his two deputies, following the revelation of a loss of 60 billion cedis in 2022 as reported in an annual report released a few weeks ago.
Furthermore, the Minority has signaled its intention to stage a protest outside the bank’s premises if the governor does not resign within 21 days from their initial demand.
Read Ablakwa’s post below:
Unraveling the Bankrupt BoG Head Office Mystery— From an initial US$81.8million, suddenly escalating to US$121million & currently threatening to exceed US$250million
I have depressingly followed the national debate on what many outraged Ghanaians have described as the extravagant and wasteful US$250million new Bank of Ghana Corporate Head Office.
It is obvious from the Bank of Ghana’s feeble and anaemic defence that they have opted not to be transparent, candid and accountable to the good people of Ghana.
A shocking and embarrassing interview of Mr. Charles Elias Reindorf, Director of Finance at the Central Bank where he abruptly ended an interview following a harmless question on the cost of the project has since gone viral.
Instructively, the Bank of Ghana in all its public engagements has refused to disclose the current cost of the project, the procurement method, when the project was awarded and the scheduled completion date.
Some NPP propagandists including Mr. Richard Ahiagbah opportunistically jumped into the fray claiming that the project started under the NDC when Hon. Ato Forson served on the Bank of Ghana Board between 2013 and 2017.
Considering the deliberate distortion, lack of transparency, sponsored obfuscation and naked dishonesty; I decided to activate my constitutionally mandated parliamentary oversight role, so I could unravel the mystery in our collective national interest.
I can today report that I have intercepted unimpeachable, incontrovertible, irrefutable and undeniable documents from the Bank of Ghana and other credible sources which significantly reveal the following:
1. The Bank of Ghana commenced procurement processes for the controversial palatial head office on 14th January, 2020 when they wrote to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) seeking approval to strangely use the Restricted Tendering Procurement Method;
2. The PPA by letter dated 28th January, 2020 signed by its Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey communicated approval of the Board for the BoG to proceed with its desire to use the Restricted Tendering Method;
3. From the intercepted documents, procurement for the project did not commence under the NDC or during the tenure of Hon. Ato Forson as Board Member, neither did it start during the presidency of H.E. John Mahama, contrary to the vicious fabrications by some desperate NPP apologists;
4. The BoG’s unacceptable use of the Restricted Tendering Method amounts to a blatant violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended in Act 914. Section 38 of Act 663 provides a limited scope for the use of Restricted Tendering in circumstances where goods, services or works are available only from a limited number of suppliers or contractors;
5. From the intercepted documents, the BoG handpicked the following companies: i) Messrs. WBHO Ghana Limited, ii) Messrs. Man Enterprise, iii) Messrs. DeSimone Limited, iv) Messrs. Ronesans Holdings and v) Messrs. Goldkey Properties;
6. It is not clear what criteria the BoG used in selecting its preferred 5 companies when Ghana’s built environment can boast of many established and celebrated construction firms such as Consar, Berock, Maripoma, Mawums, M. Barbisotti, First Sky, Antartic, Ussuya, Regimanuel, and so on and so forth;
7. None of the BoG’s shortlisted companies can lay claim to any patent or exclusive capacity which other construction firms in that category do not possess and therefore warranting or justifying the use of restricted tendering;
8. It is obvious that Ghana would have had better value for money if the BoG had been less shady and opened up the process — opting for a full competitive tendering process;
9. In a bizarre twist, further investigations reveal that one of the BoG’s 5 “ordained” companies: Messrs. Ronesans Holdings is not registered at the Office of the Registrar of Companies. How did an unregistered company qualify to participate in a restricted tender?;
10. I intercepted another letter dated 4th September, 2020 also signed by PPA Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Mantey which shockingly reveals that just within 8 months, the cost of the BoG Head Office project astronomically increased from US$81,882,640.00 to US$121,078,517.94.
11. Experts say this staggering US$40million increase in the project cost between January and September 2020 in a dollar denominated contract is absolutely mind boggling;
12. A 40% hike merely after tender evaluation in dollar pricing, not cedis, raises many critical questions for the BoG;
13. A credible full competitive tender process would have avoided this arbitrary cost escalation and guaranteed value for money;
14. Ironically, all these procurement breaches and sleazy price escalation at taxpayer expense was happening during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when President Akufo-Addo and Governor Addison had given Ghanaians assurances that they had put everything else on hold and were focusing on saving lives. Addison even claimed in June 2020 that the Central Bank was struggling in financing government because of Covid only to initiate this mega project on the blindside of Ghanaians;
15. Deeper investigations into the shady BoG head office project led me to discover another reckless and lawless conduct by the Addison-led Central Bank when they procured the services of a company known as MULTICAD to carry out project management through single-sourcing. (See PPA letter of 22nd September, 2021 as attached);
16. Section 40 of Act 663 provides the conditions for single-sourcing which do not apply in this instance;
17. There is no compelling genuine reason which justifies MULTICAD’s sweetheart deal of US$3.45million from Governor Addison;
18. What was Governor Addison’s special interest in ensuring that MULTICAD was single-sourced when there are hundreds of competitors out there who should have been allowed to compete for us to have value for money;
19. Curiously, this is a regime which made considerable noise in opposition against what they described as the dangers of single-sourced projects;
20. Strangely, MULTICAD’s articles of incorporation secured from the Office of the Registrar of Companies suggest that the company was registered on December 10, 2021 even though it received PPA approval on September 22, 2022. (See copy attached);
21. These numerous blatant procurement breaches, rigged procurement machinations, magical price escalations and lack of due diligence raise legitimate questions about the stewardship of PPA Board Chair, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi and his colleagues at the PPA;
22. Patriotic Bank of Ghana insiders working with me on this latest oversight project have expressed grave concern about how this BoG office complex which started at US$81.8million, surprisingly shot up to US$121million, and now variation reports are being prepared which are likely to exceed an incredible US$250million. This scary development invokes memories of the scandalous Akufo-Addo Cathedral which started at a US$100million and has now exceeded US$400million;
23. It is most astonishing for MisGovernor Addison who has presided over the BoG’s biggest losses in living memory of GHS60.8billion to initiate an US$81.8million head office project only to now saddle Ghanaians with a bill which is about three times more. The height of recklessness and gross mismanagement!;
24. Probably, Governor Addison couldn’t be bothered about the frightening cost escalations for his new empire office project because he thought he could mindlessly continue with his illegal printing of cash;
25. This exposé clearly shows how MisGovernor Addison and his colleagues in management at the BoG have been deliberately lawless and remarkably destructive. Ironically, they punished others and collapsed their banks for far less.
26. All well-meaning Ghanaians must join the #OccupyBoGProtest. MisGovernor Addison and his fellow nation wreckers must go! Let us rescue our only country.
Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has issued a comprehensive response to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s recent “Kitchen Scandal” exposé.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu alleged that Gabby’s law firm was involved in a plot to defraud the state of GH¢187.3 million on behalf of a client.
In a statement released on Friday, August 4, 2023, Gabby maintained that his firm was performing a legitimate duty on behalf of their client.
He clarified that since April 2021, his firm had been engaged by West Blue Ghana Limited to assist in the recovery of GH¢187,356,969.
This amount represented outstanding payments owed to West Blue by the Government of the Republic of Ghana under a contract dated 04 August 2015.
The contract was executed between West Blue on one hand, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on the other hand.
“Our client’s claim is founded on clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract, which sets out without equivocation, the fees due to our client under the NSW Contract. It was a contract duly crafted and executed by the John Mahama administration, of which you were a key member.
“Clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract provides that in consideration of its services, our client shall be paid a fee equivalent to 0.35% of the final invoice CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of import consignments entering into Ghana through the seaports, airports and land borders from time to time. Going strictly by the express terms of the NSW Contract, our client calculates the arrears still left outstanding to be in the sum of GH¢187,356,969. Indeed, a demand letter providing details of the sum of GH¢187,356,969 owed, was submitted to the Ministry of Finance on 28 July 2020 by the previous lawyers of our client, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah,” he wrote in his response.
According to Gabby, he mentioned that both the Ministry of Finance and GRA had consistently rejected his client’s claim, and despite several efforts by his firm to seek legal clarification on the matter, they were unsuccessful.
Gabby asserted that it was only after Mr. Ablakwa’s exposé that his firm became aware of the legal advice provided by the Attorney General, which now supports and confirms his client’s position.
“Until the release of your article, ALA had not been afforded notice of the content of the legal opinion of the Attorney General regarding our client’s claim. If, as purported by you, the chief legal advisor to the Government is of the opinion that our client’s claim is of merit, then this revelation by you is much appreciated by us, as it actually validates the legitimacy of our client’s claim,” he stated.
Gabby emphasized that no payment has been made to his client thus far. He questioned Mr. Ablakwa’s motives in the case, wondering if his interest was due to the substantial amount involved or the legitimacy of his client’s claim. Despite accusations from the MP, who alleged that Gabby was leveraging his position as a cousin to President Akufo-Addo, Gabby raised the question of whether Ablakwa’s stance would have been any different if another lawyer had been handling the case.
“If I may ask: is it the legitimacy of our client’s claim or the quantum of the sum claimed by our client that bewilders you? Further, is this not a simple matter of a legitimate claim arising out of the specific performance of the terms of a contract mutually entered into by the parties? Again, has the MoF and/or GRA agreed to pay or to even sit down to negotiate it down? Would this have been a matter at all, in your reckoning, if any other qualified lawyer was handling this matter? Is it your point that as a cousin to the President it is unethical for me to represent a client who has a legitimate case against the state?”
Read Gabby’s full response below:
To Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
My attention has been drawn to a publication by you under the title “The Kitchen Scandal”. In this thrilling publication, you seek to castigate me and my firm, Africa Legal Associates (ALA), for our provision of legitimate and bonafide legal services to our client, West Blue Ghana Limited.
ALA was engaged by West Blue Ghana Limited on 29 April 2021 to assist the company to recover outstanding payments due it from the Government of the Republic of Ghana under a contract dated 04 August 2015, executed between our client, on the one hand, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF), on the other hand. We have been on this matter for more than two years now and the MoF and GRA continue to dispute the claim in spite of what we consider to be the incontrovertibility of our client’s case per the contract. Our client’s claim is to recover arrears owed by the MoF and GRA for services it rendered to the Government of Ghana under the National Single Window and Integrated Risk Management System Contract (‘NSW contract’) dated 04 August 2015. Our client’s claim is founded on clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract, which sets out without equivocation, the fees due to our client under the NSW Contract. It was a contract duly crafted and executed by the John Mahama administration, of which you were a key member.
Clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract provides that in consideration of its services, our client shall be paid a fee equivalent to 0.35% of the final invoice CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of import consignments entering into Ghana through the seaports, airports and land borders from time to time. Going strictly by the express terms of the NSW Contract, our client calculates the arrears still left outstanding to be in the sum of GH¢187,356,969. Indeed, a demand letter providing details of the sum of GH¢187,356,969 owed, was submitted to the Ministry of Finance on 28 July 2020 by the previous lawyers of our client, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah.
Contrary to your assertion of West Blue’s contract being terminated before the claim period, note that West Blue continued to render services to the Government under the contract, following an extension of the said contract post 31 December 2018, instructively, a period not included in the claim of GH¢187,356,969, which is set between 2015 and 2018.
The MoF and GRA deny the claim of our client and state that our client’s fees were rather to be calculated on the total inspection fees, which is merely a constituent of the total CIF, paid on imports. This, if you like, constitutes the gravamen significado of the dispute.
ALA has written numerous letters to the MoF and GRA to explain the legal justification of our client’s claim. Per a letter dated 05 August 2021, the Attorney General, who is the chief legal advisor to the Government, was requested to assist the parties (MoF, GRA, and our client) with a legal opinion that would clarify the legal operation of the key terms of the NSW Contract. This request was made pursuant to a mutual understanding between lawyers from ALA and representatives of GRA during a meeting held to discuss our client’s claim.
On 13 December 2021, ALA wrote to the Attorney General for an update on the request for the legal opinion and our client’s claim in general, as all our efforts to procure an update from the MoF and GRA had thus far proven futile. In the Attorney General’s response to us, we were advised to contact the MoF and GRA as they had been furnished with the legal opinion by the Attorney General’s office.
The MoF and GRA have consistently refused to share the legal opinion with us despite numerous requests for the same. They have also refused to meet with our client since 2021 to explore a possible settlement of our client’s claim which, if not settled, could result in a hefty judgment debt against the country. It is imperative to emphasise that no money has been paid to our client since we made the demand on MoF and GRA on our client’s behalf. Not a pesewa. Indeed, the MoF and/or GRA have not sat down with ALA or the client directly to even attempt a negotiation.
Until the release of your article, ALA had not been afforded notice of the content of the legal opinion of the Attorney General regarding our client’s claim. If, as purported by you, the chief legal advisor to the Government is of the opinion that our client’s claim is of merit, then this revelation by you is much appreciated by us, as it actually validates the legitimacy of our client’s claim.
Further, a Notice of Intention to Sue was issued by ALA in a letter dated 01 March 2022. In a bid to further allow the Government ample opportunity to address our client’s claim, ALA, per a letter dated 22 July 2022, issued a reminder to the Attorney General to respond to our Notice of Intention to Sue. It was only in October 2022 that ALA received an invitation from the Attorney General’s office, to attend a meeting together with MoF and GRA to discuss matters relating to our Notice of Intention to Sue. At the meeting, the parties rehashed their positions following which the Attorney General requested written submissions from all parties. ALA complied and submitted its client’s position but has not received that of either the MOF or GRA. Indeed, until your generous release of the Attorney General’s opinion(s), as far as we were aware, no real progress had been made. We are, indeed, thankful.
If I may ask: is it the legitimacy of our client’s claim or the quantum of the sum claimed by our client that bewilders you? Further, is this not a simple matter of a legitimate claim arising out of the specific performance of the terms of a contract mutually entered into by the parties? Again, has the MoF and/or GRA agreed to pay or to even sit down to negotiate it down? Would this have been a matter at all, in your reckoning, if any other qualified lawyer was handling this matter? Is it your point that as a cousin to the President it is unethical for me to represent a client who has a legitimate case against the state?
Be assured that there are numerous other top-tier firms in this country that are currently representing clients whose legitimate causes of action stem from quite similar issues, regarding contracts signed around the same period by the government in which you served.
Again, I wish to underscore the fact that our client has not been paid any part of the amount claimed to be owed to it under the NSW Contract. Our client’s case is not a challenge to the termination of the NSW Contract. It is simply a dispute over arrears owed for work already done and a claim for monies due it in accordance with the express terms of the said contract between the parties.
It is intriguing that you, of all people, see as a scandal lawyers engaged in their legitimate work of seeking to recover arrears owed to their clients, even when their claim, per your own “leaked” documents, is not, in principle, disputed by the Attorney General. I wonder how you reconcile your stance against ALA with the claim against you by the then Attorney General when you were a member of government? See Peace FM website:
If a deputy minister at the Ministry of Education (and a non lawyer at that) could gather the moral courage and see no wrong in lobbying to be paid, a contractor, whose very claim was being challenged in court at that material time by the Attorney General, then the world may be forgiven to see as extremely curious your description today of the West Blue claim as a “scandal.” Assuming, of course, the claim against you by your Attorney General is true.
Be assured that ALA is fully committed to pursuing our client’s legal rights in respect of its claim under the NSW Contract, and that should the MoF and the GRA decide to give us audience, we are duty-bound to assist our client to negotiate a settlement with the Government on the payment of the claim. In the event that this does not happen, our client reserves its rights to resort to a lawsuit for the recovery of the debt.
In the interest of the public, we are willing and ready as a firm to defend the integrity of our professional work in this matter before any appropriate forum and without prejudice to any course of action we may wish to take in the interest of our client.
Lastly, take note that I am a lawyer and Senior Partner of a corporate law firm and that I am entitled by the codes of my profession to provide legal services to clients who approach our firm, and will continue to do so without any other considerations, besides the legitimacy of the issues involved. …signed…
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called out members of the minority caucus who broke rank to defy the directive of the National Democratic Congress in approving some six ministers nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
In a Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb, Mr Ablakwa likened the MPs to the biblical Judas and Essaus while questioning why they were not able to state their objection to the party’s directive or defend their decision to break ranks.
“The traitors should have mustered courage and exhibited a modicum of sincerity during our numerous strategy sessions by informing us that they disagreed with our fundamental objection to President Akufo-Addo’s misguided penchant for an obscenely bloated government.
“No one is convinced that these fifth columnists acted in good conscience, with honourable intentions, and in the national interest. If they did, why are they hiding in rat holes and afraid to publicly own up and defend their treachery?” he shared in a Facebook post while issuing an apology to the people of Ghana on behalf of the minority caucus.
Prior to the vetting of the nominees by the Appointments Committee of Parliament, the NDC had issued a directive to its MPs to reject the nominees in demand for a reduction in the size of the current government.
However, when the House on Friday, March 24, 2023, conducted a secret ballot on the nominees, all six acquired overwhelming votes despite the equal numbers on both sides of the House.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the breakaway MPs by the actions have caused damage to NDC’s “brand and public trust in our caucus may take decades to repair.”
He, however, pleaded with Ghanaians to “at least recognise that a clear majority of NDC MPs did not participate in this grand betrayal — that should offer some compensation and some genuine hope.”
Read his full post below:
The NDC Caucus in Parliament certainly owe the Ghanaian people an unqualified apology.
We are deeply sorry.
The traitors should have mustered courage and exhibited a modicum of sincerity during our numerous strategy sessions by informing us that they disagreed with our fundamental objection to President Akufo-Addo’s misguided penchant for an obscenely bloated government.
No one is convinced that these fifth columnists acted in good conscience, with honourable intentions, and in the national interest. If they did, why are they hiding in rat holes and afraid to publicly own up and defend their treachery. The damage these Judases and Esaus have done to our party’s brand and public trust in our caucus may take decades to repair.
As we struggle to rebuild public confidence in the NDC, may the treacherous elements be exposed and may the Good Lord forgive them their trespasses.
If we cannot be trusted in opposition when crumbs are at stake, how do we expect the Ghanaian people to send us into government where we shall be entrusted with all of Ghana’s resources?
If privileged party elites conduct themselves in this manner at the top, what are we inviting our party agents at the branches to do on December 7, 2024 when they are tempted?
I must, however, salute the over 90 gallant NDC MPs who refused to bow to Baal and kept faith with the suffering masses.
It is worth pleading with Ghanaians to at least recognise that a clear majority of NDC MPs did not participate in this grand betrayal — that should offer some compensation and some genuine hope.
As heart wrenching as this episode has been, we fervently pray that the good people of Ghana and our loyal party members would not give up on us.
Please find a place in your hearts to forgive us; and watch us work extra hard like never before, and with the purest of integrity as we seek to regain your trust and save our dear country, particularly in this period of self-inflicted economic crisis.
May I conclude by soberly requesting all colleagues on both sides of the House to reflect on the epic happenings in the British House of Commons some four centuries ago which led to the historic dissolution speech of Oliver Cromwell on 20th April, 1653 as reproduced below:
“It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.
Paul Adom-Otchere, the board chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Limited says he is praying to God to ensure that Reverend Kusi Boateng, the secretary of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral is exonerated of the charges levelled against him by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu.
The host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV says much as he believes in the credibility of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, he is hopeful that Reverend Kusi Boateng will be cleared of the allegations for which he has been hauled to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
He commended Reverend Kusi Boateng for indicating his readiness to collaborate with CHRAJ and said that posture fills him with confidence that the embattled clergyman is innocent of the allegations.
“The matter is before CHRAJ and I’m happy that in his response Reverend Kusi Boateng welcomed the challenge that Okudzeto is sending him to CHRAJ. It tells all of us that he will be able to establish his innocence. I pray to God and I sincerely hope Okudzeto is wrong on this matter even though I take him seriously,” he said.
Okudzeto Ablakwa on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 petitioned CHRAJ to investigate Reverend Kusi Boateng over the alleged payment of GH₵2.6 million paid him by the National Cathedral secretariat.
The petition was the actionable move of an explosive set of allegations he made against Reverend Kusi Boateng which among other things include double identity claims.
In an explosive set of allegations which he described as the Tsar Bomba of all scandals, Ablakwa claimed that Reverend Kusi Boateng holds multiple passports and identification cards with some bearing the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“You will recall that in my earlier exposé of the scandalous GHC2.6million cash transfer from the National Cathedral Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited, I pointed out that incorporation documents reveal that the three directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited are Johannes Eshun, Sheila Eshun and Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“I also later revealed that Rev. Johannes Eshun is a branch pastor of National Cathedral Executive Council Member/Director, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng’s Power Chapel Worldwide.
“Hitherto, the third director—Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi has remained a mystery figure.
“I am now able to reveal the true identity of this mystery director of JNS, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
“Definitely, the code has finally been cracked and it shocks to the marrow!
“Unimpeachable and incontrovertible evidence confirms that Mr. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is the famous Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng who still serves on the National Cathedral Board as an Executive Council Member/Director.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no distinct Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. Kwabena Adu Gyamfi is a criminal creation of Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng. The two are therefore one and the same.
“Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi thought he had outwitted every Ghanaian, particularly our authorities whom he dribbled for many years; but the day of reckoning is finally here.
“From unassailable and irreproachable documents in my possession, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi uses multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth as his special modus operandi,” he wrote on Facebook.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been ordered by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to apologize to Ghanaians for the country’s current economic problems.
The MP blamed the president for the current situation of the economy in an interview with Accra’s Asempa FM, which GhanaWeb was listening to.
“After taking office and proclaiming that I support large government, I appointed the most ministers in the history of this nation, I was fiscally irresponsible, I went on a borrowing binge where some of my appointees stood to benefit, I had conflicts of interest in that borrowing, and now the World Bank tells us that the debt to GDP ratio by the end of this year will be 104%.
“The President should have apologised to the people of Ghana for what we have been put through,” Ablakwa stated.
Ghana’s economy is currently under pressure, which has resulted in an increase in the cost of living as well as what some have described as ‘galloping inflation.’
The country’s currency is also depreciating against the US dollar and other major trading currencies around the world.
The government hope in securing an IMF bailout to help boost the economy.
