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Tag: Okudzeto Ablakwa

  • Foreign Affairs Minister completes rollout of Passport Application Centres in all regional capitals

    Foreign Affairs Minister completes rollout of Passport Application Centres in all regional capitals

    In early October, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa reiterated his commitment to establishing a passport office in each of the sixteen regions nationwide.

    At a commissioning ceremony for the Damango Passport Application Centre, held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the Minister confirmed that the government has kept to its word. Currently, each region has a passport office.

    The ceremony marks a significant milestone in the government’s decentralisation agenda, aimed at expanding access to essential public services and easing the burden on citizens who previously had to travel long distances to apply for passports.

    Taunting his office’s efforts in establishing passport centres in the rest of the seven regions, which had no office, he highlighted that the Ministry deliberately worked towards ensuring that all regional capitals had fully operational centres before the end of 2025.

    “When I assumed office, only nine regions had passport application centres. Today, with the commissioning of this centre, we have fulfilled the government’s pledge to establish passport offices in all 16 regional capitals, ensuring that no Ghanaian has to travel long distances to access this essential service.

    “In pursuit of this vision, application centres were successfully opened in Bolgatanga, Dambai, Techiman, Damongo, Goaso, Nalerigu and Sefwi-Wiawso within the year,” the Minister noted.

    The North Tongu Member of Parliament also mentioned some stringent reforms that were currently underway to protect the integrity of Ghana’s passport.

    According to him, strict verification processes will be enforced to ensure that only eligible Ghanaian citizens are issued the travel document.

    In reaction to the Minister’s words, the Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, lauded the government’s efforts in fulfilling its promise, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.

    Savannah Regional Minister, Isifu Salisu Bi-Awurobe, pledged his administration’s support to ensure the smooth operation of the Damongo centre.

    He further announced plans to allocate a two-acre parcel of land for the construction of a permanent passport office in the region.

    Representing the Savannah Parliamentary Caucus, the Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, expressed optimism that the facility would significantly reduce the challenges residents previously faced in accessing passport services outside the region.

    The event drew service commanders, traditional and religious leaders, as well as residents from across the Savannah Region.

    Earlier in the day, the Foreign Affairs Minister paid a courtesy call on the Yagbonwura at the Jakpa Palace, where he briefed the Overlord on the government’s passport reforms and decentralisation efforts.

    The commissioning of the Damango passport office comes just a few months after he reiterated his commitment to establishing new centres nationwide.

    Speaking at the ceremony organised to hand over diplomatic passports to five distinguished Ghanaians, the Minister disclosed that,

    “But we still have seven regions without passport application centres. I am delighted to announce that by December, we will make sure every region without a passport application centre has one, starting with Bolgatanga this month,” he said.

    He revealed that the first of the new centres will be commissioned this month in Bolgatanga, as part of efforts to decentralise passport services and improve accessibility across the country.


    The Minister disclosed during a ceremony to hand over diplomatic passports to five distinguished Ghanaians: travel vlogger Wode Maya, Grammy-nominated reggae artist Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster and entrepreneur Anita Erskine, contemporary visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and British-Ghanaian entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng MBE.


    Mr Ablakwa noted that ongoing reforms within the Foreign Affairs Ministry have already transformed the passport acquisition process, with applicants now receiving their passports in record time through courier services, eliminating the need for stressful trips to collection centres.

    “The Foreign Affairs Ministry has become very efficient, and Ghanaians are already confirming that now it is a smooth process. They are receiving their passports in record time and do not have to stress to pick them up at passport offices, because they are being delivered via courier services”, he noted.

    Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that beginning Thursday, November 13, ordinary Ghanaian passport fees will now be sold at GHC350 from GHC500.

    The Minister made the announcement on Sunday, November 9, stating, “New Passport Application Fee of GHS350 (a 30% reduction) comes into effect this Thursday, November 13, 2025. For God and Country”.

    According to the government, the decrease is to ensure citizens have access to essential public services, as well as to ease the financial burden on citizens. The reduction represents a more than 25% decrease.

    Appearing before the floor of Parliament in March, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa noted, “The government recognises concerns about the affordability of the new passport and is committed to ensuring that the cost remains reasonable while maintaining high security standards”.

    In our effort to make passports more accessible to all Ghanaians, and per the instruction I have received from the president, we are pleased to announce that the cost of the ordinary passport booklet, the 32-page, will be reduced from GH¢500 to GH¢350. We will, in the coming days, be presenting the amendment of the fees to ensure that this reduction is approved by the House.

  • US-Ghana deportation policy: 120 Ghanaians to arrive in Ghana after US Immigration Board verdict

    US-Ghana deportation policy: 120 Ghanaians to arrive in Ghana after US Immigration Board verdict

    The lives of many Ghanaians who have been earmarked for deportation in the USA depend on the final decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

    The BIA reviews cases involving asylum, visas, and deportation orders. Ghanaians (and other foreign nationals) are deported if they overstay visas, enter illegally, commit crimes, or lose asylum claims.

    Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa during a briefing in Parliament on Thursday, November 20 on immigration-related issues, explained that more than three hundred Ghanaians have been in detention in the last ten to eleven (10-11) months in the USA over immigration-related charges and one hundred and twenty (120) of the detained are currently awaiting the verdict by the BIA on what their fate will be, whether they will be allowed to continue staying or brought back home.

     “So far, Mr Speaker, 388 Ghanaians have been in detention since January this year on immigration-related charges. Of this number, 120 are awaiting final decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals”, the North Tongu Minister said.

     However, he noted that some people already know their fate and are currently waiting to finalise deportation arrangements and head back home. 

    “Additionally,  49 have exhausted all legal processes and are awaiting final deportation arrangements”, he added.

    Earlier reports suggested that 2,470 Ghanaians were on the U.S. deportation list, one of the highest figures ever recorded. By mid-2025, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that 188 nationals had been earmarked for deportation and were already in detention facilities.

    However, during yesterday’s presentation in Parliament, Mr Ablakwa indicated that per his outfit’s records, “169 Ghanaians have been deported to Ghana since January 2025. Out of this number, 90 arrived unaccompanied on commercial flights, 66 arrived on chartered, controlled flights supervised by ICE agents.

    The Minister’s briefing comes on the back of the U.S. government’s intensified immigration enforcement drive under President Donald Trump in 2025, which targeted undocumented migrants.

    The U.S. formally notified Ghana’s embassies in Washington and New York, requesting cooperation in issuing travel certificates for deportees. Ghana, in response, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the U.S. to accept deportees, including some West African nationals, a decision which sparked backlash, particularly from the minority, when news of possible abuse of these West African nationals who were deported to Ghana.

    Critics described the program as “Return to Nowhere,” citing harsh conditions including shackling, military transport, and detention in camps like Bundase and Burma Camp.

    Addressing public concerns about human rights abuses in the U.S. deportation process, the Minister highlighted that, 

    “We have made it clear that deportees have rights and must be deported within the confines of international law. They should not be abused, and their rights must be respected. So far, in our engagement with these deportees, there has been no evidence of rights violations”.

    On the abuse of the rights of these deportees, a group of 11 West African nationals deported from the U.S. to Ghana sued the Government of Ghana in September 2025, alleging unlawful detention and abuse of rights. Their lawyer was Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a Ghanaian human rights activist and lawyer. The case was filed at the Labour Division and Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, but was later removed to be pursued in the US, because the deportees’ claims were tied to U.S. immigration decisions.

    The reasoning was that Ghana’s courts could not directly overturn or enforce U.S. immigration rulings; only U.S. federal courts could. 

    President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, revealed during a media encounter held on Wednesday, September 10, at 8:00 PM at the Jubilee House, that the first West African nationals have arrived in Ghana following their deportation from the USA.

    The batch consisted of 14 individuals, mostly Nigerians, along with one Gambian national.

    “We were approached by the US to accept third-country nationals who were being removed, and we agreed that West African nationals could be accommodated, since all our fellow West Africans do not require a visa to enter Ghana. So, if they travel from the US to Accra, entry is not an issue. Bringing our West African colleagues back is therefore acceptable,” President Mahama explained.

    Some critics alleged that the government’s acceptance was in exchange for some monetary, logistics or diplomatic benefits, particularly after the government was exempted from the new visa policy directive issued by the Trump administration.

    Ablakwa, however, denied these claims, stating that,

    “The government of Ghana has not requested any monetary support, logistical support, or any material support for this intervention. The understanding is purely on humanitarian grounds. We are Pan-Africanists. These are fellow West Africans who are in distress, being detained, being treated shabbily, without dignity, and we cannot look on as Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana,” he told Parliament.

    Meanwhile, in mid-September, a federal judge, Tanya Chutkan, questioned the Trump-led administration over its decision to deport West African nationals to Ghana instead of sending them straight to their home countries, describing the move as an apparent attempt to circumvent U.S. immigration laws.

    These laws say the U.S. government cannot deport or return a person to a country where they are likely to be tortured or persecuted.

    Judge Tanya Chutkan granted an emergency hearing after lawyers of the deportees contended that their clients, expected to be returned to their home countries, Nigeria and Gambia, feared they would be tortured or persecuted.

    For clarity, Chutkan instructed Donald Trump’s administration to submit a report by 9 p.m. on Saturday, detailing what efforts they are taking to prevent Ghana from sending the deportees back to their home countries.

    While President Mahama didn’t explicitly detail the deal of being a purported transit hub for the West African national sent from the US, the judge, until Trump’s government submits its report, suspects complicity on the part of the Ghanaian government in the full deportation process.

    She explained that concerns about their safety in their home countries were not speculations or claims but real enough “that the United States government agrees they shouldn’t be sent back to their home country.”

    According to her, the arrangement appeared to have been designed by U.S. officials “to make an end run” around legal requirements that bar the government from sending migrants back to situations of danger.

    The controversial deportations form part of President Donald Trump’s strategy of relocating migrants to “third countries” to expedite removals and pressure undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S.

    The deportation of the West African Nationals and their conditions emerged after a lawsuit filed on Friday, September 12, by the counsel of the migrants, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice, that five of the nationals deported from the US to Ghana had U.S. legal protections preventing deportation to their home countries over fear of danger or persecution. One of them, a bisexual man, has already been sent to Gambia and is reportedly in hiding.

    The others were held in an open-air facility managed by the Ghanaian military, described as having squalid conditions.

    The said migrants, according to claims, were taken from a Louisiana detention facility, shackled, and flown on a U.S. military aircraft without being told their destination. The complaint further alleges that some were restrained in straitjackets for 16 hours.

    Trump’s government responds to the Judge’s request for clarity in the deportation case

    The U.S. Department of Justice, in response to the judge’s request, stated that it no longer had custody of the migrants, challenging the court’s authority to interfere in diplomacy, citing a Supreme Court ruling that approves their deportations to third countries.

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, however, rejected claims that straitjackets were used during the flight, refusing to comment on the allegations of circumventing immigration law.

  • Ablakwa announces full recovery of encroached lands by Foreign Affairs Ministry

    Ablakwa announces full recovery of encroached lands by Foreign Affairs Ministry

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Okudzeto Ablakwa has successfully reclaimed all lands that had been encroached upon, following President John Mahama’s directive to annul allocations and sales authorized by the previous administration.

    The directive was issued to protect the Ministry’s property in the Airport Residential Area, which had been taken over by seven organizations and individuals.

    These lands, located at the Airport Residential Area, were originally under the Ministry’s jurisdiction but had been allocated or sold during the previous administration. President John Dramani Mahama issued a directive to reverse these allocations and sales, ensuring the lands were restored to their rightful ownership—the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the people of Ghana.

    During a parliamentary debate on the Ministry’s GH¢1.4 billion budget allocation, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the recovery, emphasizing the government’s firm opposition to the sale of state-owned assets.

    He assured Parliament that all lands belonging to the Ministry had been fully restored to state ownership.

    “I am pleased to inform this house that we have successfully reclaimed all lands belonging to the Ministry. The adjoining land at the Foreign Ministry has now been fully restored to its rightful ownership – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the people of Ghana,” he declared.

    The Minister further emphasised the government’s firm position against the disposal of state assets, particularly diplomatic properties.

    “We have made it clear that no land under the Ministry’s jurisdiction will be put up for sale. Additionally, I am delighted to announce that we have halted attempts to sell diplomatic properties in Nigeria and Zambia,” he stated.

    Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting national assets, Ablakwa stressed that under President Mahama’s leadership, there would be “zero tolerance for the sale of diplomatic properties.”

    He guaranteed that all diplomatic missions and state-owned properties overseas would be preserved to serve the interests of future generations.

  • US to bear cost of deporting over 50 Ghanaians back home – Ablakwa

    US to bear cost of deporting over 50 Ghanaians back home – Ablakwa

    Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that the Ghanaian government is not responsible for the travel expenses of Ghanaians facing deportation from the United States.

    Speaking in Parliament while responding to questions about his ministry, on Thursday March 13, the North Tongu MP explained that the U.S. government is covering all travel costs for deportees. He emphasized that Ghana’s only responsibility is to facilitate their return by issuing the necessary travel certificates.

    “There’s another issue I must quickly speak to which has to do with the tickets with the returnees. Let place on record that the USA authorities are bearing the cost. They are paying the ticket fares for the deportation of our nationals and all of these deportations they are doing they are taking acre of the cost. We are only to facilitate by providing the travel certificate and making sure that as receiving country we are ready to receive them when they arrive but we are not paying for the tickets , the US authorities are handling that” he said.

    His comments come amid the U.S. government’s intensified immigration enforcement, which has led to the mass deportation of undocumented migrants.

    He further went on to assured Ghanaians that the individuals being deported from the United States are not criminals but rather hardworking people who failed to regularize their immigration status.

    Providing details in Parliament, the North Tongu MP stated, “And in terms of the profile, so far I can confirm that so far the profiling we have done these are indeed Ghanaians but they are Ghanaians who did not commit any crime, or are hardedned criminals, they are decent people who were in such of greener pastures and didn’t regularise their stay….They are very harmless so there shouldn’t be concern in Ghana that when we accept theese people they may attack or undermine the safety of our nationals

    Ablakwa urged Ghanaians to support these deportees who are facing this setback following their quest to seek greenr pastures.
    “…they need is our empathy and our care and show them compassion” he added.

    Mr. Ablakwa also revealed that the affected individuals are scheduled to depart the U.S. on March 19, March 28, and April 1.

    “None of the affected Ghanaians are in detention as we speak. 50 out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders for court. Their deportation is expected to take place by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed” he continued.

    The ongoing deportations are part of an intensified immigration enforcement effort by U.S. authorities, which began on January 26. The crackdown, led by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, has so far resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests, focusing on individuals considered threats to public safety and national security.

    The Ghanaian government has pledged to continue monitoring the situation and providing necessary support to affected nationals.

  • Passport fees would not cost govt any financial loss – Foreign Affairs Minister clarifies

    Passport fees would not cost govt any financial loss – Foreign Affairs Minister clarifies

    Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced plans to reduce the cost of the 32-page passport from GHS 500 to GHS 350.

    This decision is in line with the government’s promise to review passport fees if they win the 2024 elections, following a 400% increase in charges for the 32-page booklet and other passport types in order to cover the cost of producing the passport booklets.

    Speaking in Parliament while addressing questions related to his ministry, Mr. Ablakwa explained that the fee reduction aims to ease the financial burden on Ghanaians and wouldn’t cause any financial loss to government.

    “The work we have done with our colleagues in the ministry we are confident that with the 350 cedis will not put us in any indebtedness . there will be no loss to the state, we will not be causing financial loss to the state and will not require subsidies, we will not have to subsidies.

    The quantum leap from 100 to 500 was just too draconian and it was too you could tell Ghanaian people were not happy” he added.

    He also explained that the move to reduce the price of the 32 page passport booklet is aimed at making passport easily accessbile to all Ghanaians.

    “In our effort to make passports more accessible to all Ghanaians, and per instructions I have received from His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we are pleased to announce the reduction of the ordinary passport booklet, that is the 32-page booklet from the GH₵500 to GH₵350” he said.

    Meanwhile, passport fees were increased under the Akufo-Addo-led government on April 1, 2024. The new fees were as follows: 32-page standard passport at 500 cedis, 48-page standard passport at 644 cedis, 32-page expedited passport at 700 cedis, and 48-page expedited passport at 800 cedis.

    Following the hike in fees, there were reports of low patronage by some Ghanaians over the draconian leap in prices.

    Despite this directive facing strong opposition from dissenters including some passport applicants, agents and some stakeholders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement clarified that the decision to increase passport prices aligns with the 2023 fees regulations, L.I.2481. 

  • Ablakwa confirms ORAL has enough proof of looted state properties

    Ablakwa confirms ORAL has enough proof of looted state properties

    The Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Chairman of the Operation Recover All Loot team, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the team has gathered significant proof of state assets being looted by officials from the previous government.

    He stated that the evidence will soon be submitted to President John Dramani Mahama for the next steps.

    A few weeks ago, President Mahama appointed Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Nathan Kofi Boakye, Martin Kpebu, Raymond Archer, and Daniel Domelevo to investigate and gather evidence on state capture and misuse of assets.

    Speaking to the press in the Eastern Region, Ablakwa expressed confidence in the team’s work, describing it as successful and emphasizing their determination to hold those responsible accountable.

    “We will not disclose the nature of our achievements until we have presented our report to His Excellency the President.

    When we present our report, at that presentation, the Ghanaian people will see the tremendous work that has gone on and the extent of the loot and how all of us collectively have worked successfully to make sure that the evidence is put together, is coordinated to make sure that our attorney general and our institutions help us to recover these loots.”

  • CHRAJ calls for a forensic audit of the National Cathedral project

    CHRAJ calls for a forensic audit of the National Cathedral project

    Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has urged the Auditor-General to launch a forensic audit into the controversial National Cathedral project.

    This recommendation stems from CHRAJ’s findings after a complaint filed by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    Approximately a year ago, Mr. Ablakwa raised concerns with CHRAJ, alleging irregularities in the project’s construction and the operations of the National Cathedral Secretariat.

    He also questioned the transfer of GH₵2.6 million from the Secretariat to JNS Talent Centre Limited, a company involved in the construction.

    In the findings released by CHRAJ on Monday, November 25, after investigating the case for several months, the Commission recommended that the Office of the Auditor-General intervene and conduct a forensic audit to ascertain whether funds allocated for the project were used for their intended purposes.

    “Accordingly, the Commission recommends that the Auditor-General should conduct a forensic audit of the construction of the National Cathedral project from its inception to date to ascertain whether monies released for its construction have been properly utilised,” CHRAJ noted.

    CHRAJ’s detailed report has recommended the potential prosecution of the board of trustees overseeing the National Cathedral project, citing their role in awarding the contract to Ribade Company Limited.

    The report highlighted multiple violations of procurement regulations and warned that the failure of those involved to address the issues could tarnish Ghana’s reputation both locally and internationally.

    CHRAJ concluded that Mr. Ablakwa’s claims of breaches in mandatory procurement procedures were valid.

    However, the Commission determined that allegations against Reverend Victor Kusi-Boateng, Secretary of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, involving conflicts of interest and the use of multiple identities, lacked sufficient evidence to be substantiated.

  • Alleged Expired Rice: Education Ministry insists rice distributed to SHSs FDA approved

    Alleged Expired Rice: Education Ministry insists rice distributed to SHSs FDA approved

    Ministry of Education has responded to allegations by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding the distribution of 22,000 bags of allegedly expired and repackaged rice to Senior High Schools across the country.

    The Ministry has dismissed these claims, asserting that the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) certified the rice as safe for consumption.

    Ablakwa accused Lamens Investments Africa Limited and the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) of conspiring to distribute rice that had reportedly expired in December 2023. He further alleged that the rice was repackaged in locally made sacks with misleading labels such as “ECOWAS” and “Made in Ghana rice” and lacked proper expiry dates.

    On November 14, 2024, the Ministry of Education addressed the controversy, confirming that the matter is under investigation. According to Ministry spokesperson Kwasi Kwarteng, NAFCO had contracted Lamens Ventures to procure and distribute the rice.

    While the rice was initially imported and marked with a December 2023 expiry date, Lamens Ventures sought FDA guidance to assess whether the product was still fit for consumption.

    Following retesting, including a review in India, the FDA extended the “Best Before” date to April 30, 2024, confirming the rice remained safe to eat.

    Despite this assurance, Ablakwa has doubled down on his position, rejecting the FDA’s findings and maintaining that the rice was unfit for distribution. The Ministry has reiterated its commitment to uncovering the truth and ensuring the safety of food provided to schools.

    Read initial findings: Supply of Expired Rice to Students under the Free SHS Programme.

    1. The National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO) engaged Lamens Ventures to procure rice for distribution to students under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program.

    2. A total of 11,000 metric tons of rice was imported, with an initial expiry date of December 2023.

    3. By the last quarter of 2023, NAFCO still had a portion of this stock yet to be supplied to schools.

    4. On the advice of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Lamens Ventures followed the necessary protocols to have the rice re-tested in India, its country of origin.

    5. ⁠The re-testing was to ascertain the possibility of extending the rice’s shelf life by an additional year, to December 2024.

    5. Following further evaluations and verifications, the FDA granted a temporary extension of the rice’s “Best Before” date to April 30 2024, after confirming the product’s continued wholesomeness.

    6. ⁠It is important to note that February 2024 was the last time Lamens distributed these rice to schools through NAFCO and at the time the rice was deemed wholesome by the FDA

    7. ⁠To address concerns from schools regarding the rice’s perceived expiry date, Lamens Ventures submitted a formal request to the FDA, dated February 9, 2024, seeking approval to re-bag the remaining stock to reflect the updated shelf life.

    8. The rice was certified by the FDA as wholesome for consumption, with its new expiry date extended to April 2024.

  • Govt issued 11 new mining licences same day Akufo-Addo met organised labour – Ablakwa alleges

    Govt issued 11 new mining licences same day Akufo-Addo met organised labour – Ablakwa alleges

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised a significant allegation regarding the issuance of small-scale mining licences.

    The MP claims that on October 3, 2024—the very day President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo held a meeting with Organised Labour—11 new mining licenses were issued.

    “You have not seen the worse. Let me reveal to you this morning to my shock, and I’m sure many Ghanaians will be shocked this morning, particularly the Organised Labour.

    To my shock, while the president was meeting with Organised Labour, that same day would you believe that new licences were being issued for these companies to start mining?

    That same 3rd of October, two days ago, 11 new licences to companies. Shocking!” he stated.

    In an interview on TV3’s Key Points on October 5, 2024, Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that data supporting his claims could be found on the Ghana Data Mining Repository.

    He went on to name the companies he alleged had been granted licences.

    Earlier, on October 1, 2024, Organised Labour announced its intent to launch a nationwide strike, scheduled for October 10, to demand a full ban on illegal mining (galamsey).

    However, during a private meeting on October 3, 2024, with major union leaders, where the environmental harm caused by illegal mining took centre stage, the president urged the union leaders to reconsider their decision.

    He asked for more time to tackle the issues raised and appealed for a postponement of the planned strike.

  • Ablakwa is against Mahama; he doesn’t want his win – Owusu- Bempah

    Ablakwa is against Mahama; he doesn’t want his win – Owusu- Bempah

    Deputy Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Owusu-Bempah, has accused Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, of working against the presidential ambitions of John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, for personal political gain.

    Speaking during an interview on Onua TV on October 2, 2024, Owusu-Bempah alleged that Ablakwa is quietly manoeuvring to position himself as a future leader within the NDC by subtly hoping for Mahama’s defeat in the upcoming election.

    He pointed to Ablakwa’s public actions and statements, claiming they demonstrate a focus on advancing his own political career rather than fully backing Mahama’s campaign.

    Owusu-Bempah urged the public to examine Ablakwa’s previous comments, asserting that the MP has consistently refrained from expressing clear support or praise for Mahama.

    According to Owusu-Bempah, this apparent lack of endorsement suggests Ablakwa may have a hidden agenda aimed at his own future leadership aspirations within the party.

    “Okudzeto Ablakwa is not supporting John Mahama. He is building his own political career for John Mahama to lose so that he can take over.

    “Okudzeto Ablakwa doesn’t support John Mahama, and the inner circles within the NDC know about that. Have you heard of him promoting John Mahama before?

    Go back and check the archives. Check his statements in the public domain. If he has praised Mahama before, I will stop politics. Go and check the archives,” he said.

  • Sports ministry gives account of how renovation funds were used after Ablakwa embezzlement claims

    Sports ministry gives account of how renovation funds were used after Ablakwa embezzlement claims

    Ministry of Youth and Sports has dismissed allegations made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, regarding the misuse of funds allocated for stadium renovations.

    In a recent statement, the ministry urged the public to disregard such claims, reiterating that the funds had been properly used for the intended projects, including the rehabilitation of key sports facilities like the Accra Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Stadium.

    The ministry emphasised its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in all renovation efforts.

    “The Accra Sports Stadium has undergone three (3) phases of renovation works. Phase (I) contract was awarded in January 2018 at the contract sum of GH¢10,521,760.11 to Messrs Coupbay Construction Limited.

    The renovation contract for Accra Sports Stadium was awarded in October 2018 at the contract sum of GH¢18,647,139.41 to Messrs Coupbay Construction Limited.

    “Baba Yara Sports Stadium has undergone two (2) phases of renovation since the last major renovation in 2007.

    National stadia was a deathtrap under your NDC government – Sports ministry hit back at OkudzetoDownload

    Phase (I) of renovation work on Baba Yara Stadium was awarded in April 2020 at the contract sum of GH¢21,122,068.44 to Messrs Javkier Limited,” portions of the statement read.

    It was further disclosed that “The Essipong Stadium was constructed in 2007 for the 2008 AFCON Tournament. However, similar to the Accra and Baba Yara Stadia, there has been no renovation work done since 2007.

    The seaside climate also caused the metal works of the stadium to rust. Phase (I) renovation work was awarded on contract in April 2020 to Messrs CI Limited at the contract sum of GH¢17,969,447.10.”

    The Ministry of Youth and Sports has urged the public to dismiss allegations made by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, regarding the misappropriation of funds designated for stadium renovations.

    The ministry emphasised that the funds have been properly allocated and used for projects, including key renovations at the Accra Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Stadium.

    They assured that all financial resources were directed towards upgrading sports infrastructure, as outlined in previous reports.

  • We are not the same; NPP known for destruction; NDC builds – Ablakwa on parties being same

    We are not the same; NPP known for destruction; NDC builds – Ablakwa on parties being same

    North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has strongly rejected claims that the opposition NDC and the ruling NPP are indistinguishable.

    The former deputy education minister accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of deceiving “God, the clergy, and the Ghanaian people.”

    Addressing the controversial National Cathedral project, Ablakwa criticized the government for demolishing numerous structures, only to create what he described as “the most expensive hole in the world.”

    Ablakwa made these remarks during the launch of the NDC’s 2024 Manifesto in Winneba, Central Region, on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

    He recounted how “in the process” of actualizing the president’s personal religious dream, “so many edifices were demolished,” including, but not limited to, “the judiciary training institute, judges’ bungalows, scholarship secretariat, passport head office, and the Malian ambassador’s residence.”

    “Did you ever hear Mahama say he woke up with a nightmare and so has decided to make a personal pledge, and so he’s going to sink 58.1 million dollars into the world’s most expensive pit?” Ablakwa quizzed.

    He described Mahama as a nation-builder who, during his presidency, built “the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Ridge Hospital, Shai-Osudoku Hospital, Terminal 3 at the Kotoka International Airport, Kumasi Airport, Tamale Airport, Ho Airport,” etc., comparing him to the current president, who “is demolishing, destroying in a deceptive pledge where he says he will not use our taxes.”

    “How can you say these two people are the same and that these two parties are the same?” Ablakwa asked in admonishment.

    The notion that the NDC and NPP are the same is “baseless and unfounded,” he stressed. “The NDC is different.”

  • Ethics, Ways and Means Committees set by Parliament , Ablakwa to head Assurance Committee

    Ethics, Ways and Means Committees set by Parliament , Ablakwa to head Assurance Committee

    Parliament of Ghana has recently established several crucial committees, including the Assurance Committee led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu.

    Ablakwa’s committee is mandated with overseeing the fulfillment of government pledges to both Parliament and the public, ensuring accountability and transparency in governance.

    Alongside the Assurance Committee, Parliament has formed the Ethics and Standards Committee, chaired by Asokwa MP Patricia Appiagyei, and the Ways and Means Committees.

    These bodies are pivotal in upholding parliamentary integrity and efficiency.

    The Ethics Committee’s role is to monitor the conduct of MPs, enforcing ethical standards to maintain the legislative body’s dignity and reputation. It addresses any misconduct and enforces disciplinary actions as necessary.

    Additionally, Parliament has instituted the Economy and Development Committee and the Backbenchers Committee to further enhance legislative oversight and policymaking.

    Read new Committees below:

    Committeess_2024-20251Download
  • People still live in tents: Ablakwa ‘cries’ for dam spillage victims ahead of second spillage

    People still live in tents: Ablakwa ‘cries’ for dam spillage victims ahead of second spillage

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has issued a warning that another spillage of the Akosombo Dam without resettling the victims of the first spillage could be disastrous, as many are still living in tents.

    Ablakwa has called for immediate action in anticipation of the upcoming spillage of the Akosombo Dam. He highlighted that some victims of the previous disaster remain in temporary shelters.

    The Volta River Authority (VRA) has announced plans for community engagement ahead of a controlled spillage. However, during the presentation of the business statement for next week in parliament, Ablakwa mentioned that the spillage is scheduled for August 1, according to his information from the VRA.

    He also questioned why the parliamentary probe, initiated by Speaker Alban Bagbin, has not conducted any checks to inform the public about the impending spillage.

    “Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I remind you and this house that it has been 10 good months since the September 15 spillage, which unleashed untold devastation. More than 60,000 people were displaced; in my constituency, more than 12,000 were displaced. We filed a motion, and Mr. Speaker assured us that there would be a committee of inquiry so that, most importantly, we would learn lessons.

    I am not too fixated on any sanction or punishment per se; that is not in our interest. Best practices all over the world: when disasters of such nature occur, they carry out a probe so that it will lead to institutional reforms so that there will be far-reaching recommendations so that lessons can be learned and it will be avoided.

    “As we speak, there are people still living in tents. If you go to Mepe Degomey Camp 1 or Mepe Degomey Camp 2, there are hundreds of our fellow citizens still living in tents. So those living in tents who lost their properties, Mr. Speaker, how do you think they see us if they hear there’s going to be spillage soon?

    Indeed, my follow-ups show that the spillage is going to occur as soon as August 1. That is what I am picking up from my usual deep-throat, impeccable sources.”

    Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, the MP for Oforikrom, called for the sector minister to appear before parliament regarding the recent developments. His demand found support from Patrick Yaw Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central.

    Ampem Nyarko, MP for Asuogyaman, who had already filed an urgent question on the issue, urged the Speaker to summon the ministry.

    In response, Deputy Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh announced that parliament would conduct a closed-door session with the Ministry for Energy on the matter.

    Severe flooding in the Lower Volta area of Ghana resulted from heavy downpours, marking the region’s worst flooding on record.

    The flooding was triggered by a deliberate release of water from the Akosombo Dam, displacing over 26,000 people. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.

    The last documented spillage from the dam occurred in 2010. The Volta River Authority, responsible for managing the dam, opened its floodgates to alleviate pressure caused by unusually high rainfall.

    By September, the Volta Lake, a vast reservoir stretching 400 km behind the dam, reached full capacity. Communities along the Volta River suffered extensive damage due to the overflow, with residents evacuating to safety, leaving behind their homes and belongings.

    Agricultural lands were submerged, resulting in substantial crop losses, while businesses in low-lying areas also endured significant damage.

  • Incurably uncouth NAPO once again exhibited his relentless pursuit in tarnishing Nkrumah’s legacy – Ablakwa

    Incurably uncouth NAPO once again exhibited his relentless pursuit in tarnishing Nkrumah’s legacy – Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Okudzeto Ablakwa strongly criticized the Akufo-Addo administration for consistently disparaging Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy.

    He specifically denounced recent remarks by Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, running mate to Vice President Bawumia, who claimed that the current government has outperformed Nkrumah’s achievements since independence in 1957.

    Ablakwa expressed dismay at what he called the government’s relentless and baseless attacks on Nkrumah’s unparalleled contributions to Ghana, labeling them as unacceptable.

    “The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia regime has been relentless with their pathetic and fruitless onslaught on Nkrumah’s unmatched legacy, which was once again exhibited by their incurably uncouth running mate in Kumasi yesterday when he preposterously claimed Akufo-Addo has done more for Ghana than Nkrumah — but we say, enough is enough! We shall not sit idly by and lose our famed W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for 50 good years — who knows, we may never ever get it back.”

    See tweet below:

  • Akufo-Addo/Bawumia regime has been relentless with their pathetic, fruitless onslaught on Nkrumah’s unmatched legacy – Ablakwa fumes

    Akufo-Addo/Bawumia regime has been relentless with their pathetic, fruitless onslaught on Nkrumah’s unmatched legacy – Ablakwa fumes

    Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has criticized the Akufo-Addo administration for its persistent criticism of Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy.

    Ablakwa condemned the NPP’s efforts to tarnish Nkrumah’s legacy, describing it as unforgivable.

    He expressed his displeasure particularly with a recent comment by Dr. Bawumia’s running mate, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who claimed that the Akufo-Addo government has achieved more than Nkrumah’s administration.

    Speaking at his official unveiling event at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on July 9, 2024, Dr Opoku Prempeh said “Since independence in 1957, no president has helped Ghana as much as Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    From 1957 to now, not even your Kwame Nkrumah has moved Ghana forward and protected it like Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,” NAPO stated.

    Okudzeto Ablakwa in a tweet stated “the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia regime has been relentless with their pathetic and fruitless onslaught on Nkrumah’s unmatched legacy, which was once again exhibited by their incurably uncouth running mate in Kumasi yesterday when he preposterously claimed Akufo-Addo has done more for Ghana than Nkrumah but we say, enough is enough!”

    See tweet below:

  • W.E.B. Du Bois Centre has been handed over to an incorporated foundation by Akufo-Addo – Ablakwa

    W.E.B. Du Bois Centre has been handed over to an incorporated foundation by Akufo-Addo – Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Okudzeto Ablakwa has raised concerns about the potential sale of Ghana’s W.E.B. Du Bois Centre to an undisclosed foundation.

    He accused the Akufo-Addo administration of hastening this process, which he claims could harm Ghanaian interests.

    Ablakwa shared what he claims are sample documents of the agreement on Twitter, making allegations of state capture and calling for action against it.

    “The latest unbelievable victim is the iconic and globally renowned W.E.B. Du Bois Centre located in the prime Cantonments area of the national capital.

    “The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has under disturbingly opaque and uncompetitive circumstances signed a crony agreement to hand over Ghana’s internationally acclaimed W.E.B. Du Bois Centre to a recently incorporated foundation,” Ablakwa stated.

    See post below:

  • Interior Minister’s Prisons ‘land looting’ reply won’t make fighting state capture easy – Ablakwa

    Interior Minister’s Prisons ‘land looting’ reply won’t make fighting state capture easy – Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has once again accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of involvement in capturing state properties. In a tweet, he alleged that lands belonging to Ghana Prisons are under threat of state capture by individuals associated with the Vice Presidency.

    In a video addressing concerns about these claims, Ablakwa queried Interior Minister Henry Quartey about his knowledge of ongoing actions. Minister Quartey, however, denied any official notice of demolitions and defended the integrity of the individuals involved, noting their reputable standing and separation of private business from political roles.

    Minister Quartey explained that redevelopment plans for Ghana Prisons Service barracks aim to alleviate severe living conditions endured by junior officers and their families. He stated that proposals for redevelopment have been under consideration for over 20 years and that a recent proposal was endorsed by both the prison officers and council service.

    Responding to allegations, Ablakwa questioned the motives behind the redevelopment and potential benefits to developers involved. He cited conflicting statements from government bodies regarding land allocation and urged alignment between ministries to protect Ghana Prisons’ property rights.

    He specifically pointed to Professor Kweku Appiah Adu, a senior advisor to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, alleging his involvement in actions against the prison service’s interests, including alleged demolitions and land encroachments. Ablakwa pressed for clarity on government actions to resolve the matter and safeguard state-owned lands.

    Watch video below:

  • Inter Allies thank Okudzeto Ablakwa for cash donation

    Inter Allies thank Okudzeto Ablakwa for cash donation

    Inter Allies FC, a newly promoted Division One League club, has expressed deep appreciation to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, for his generous cash donation following the team’s recent triumph.

    This donation comes as a celebration of Inter Allies’ victory in the 2023/2024 Volta Football Association Middle League, which secured their promotion to the National Division One League.

    Ablakwa, whose constituency includes the team’s home ground at Battor R/C Park, shared his joy over their success.

    He urged the players and management to continue bringing pride to the people of Battor as they progress to the national level.

    “This kind gesture is a testament to Honourable Ablakwa’s belief in football’s potential for national development and as a career path for young people,” said Inter Allies CEO, Delali Senaye.

    Inter Allies is open to partnering with Mr Ablakwa in further promoting and developing football within the constituency.

    The team is committed to making the MP and all their supporters proud in the upcoming National Division One League.

    Once again, the team extends its thanks to Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for his support and generosity.

  • SSNIT hotels sale: ‘Posterity will judge this gov’t for stealing lands’ – La Wulomo

    SSNIT hotels sale: ‘Posterity will judge this gov’t for stealing lands’ – La Wulomo

    La Wulomo Nuumo Yemoh Obroni VIII has criticized the government for its economic mismanagement and accused it of corruption and land theft.

    During a protest organized by Okudzeto Ablakwa against the sale of SSNIT hotels to the Minister of Agriculture, the La Wulomo expressed his outrage.

    “These lands are part of our ancestral heritage. There is no justification for selling them to the government. It is deeply disappointing. We, as chief priests, have rights and must fight for our children’s future,” he declared.

    He continued “Posterity will judge this government, so disappointing the way they are handling state property.”

    This protest occurred today, highlighting the community’s frustration with the government’s actions.

  • “As a Chief Priest I need to fight for my right” – La Wulomo on SSNIT hotels sale

    “As a Chief Priest I need to fight for my right” – La Wulomo on SSNIT hotels sale

    La Wulomo Nuumo Yemoh Obroni VIII strongly criticized the government for its handling of the economy, accusing officials of mismanagement and corruption.

    He specifically condemned the government’s involvement in what he described as the looting and illegal appropriation of land, instead of safeguarding state assets.

    During a protest organized by Okudzeto Ablakwa against the sale of SSNIT hotels to the Minister of Agriculture, the La Wulomo voiced his frustration with the ongoing situation.

    He emphasized that the land in question belonged to their ancestors and questioned the rationale behind its sale to the state.

    The La Wulomo expressed deep disappointment, asserting the rights of traditional leaders and their duty to protect ancestral lands for future generations.

  • SSNIT hotels sale: Abraham Koomson slams Organised Labour; commends Ablakwa

    SSNIT hotels sale: Abraham Koomson slams Organised Labour; commends Ablakwa

    General Secretary of the Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson, has accused organised labour of failing to act to stop the sale of the hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

    Mr Koomson says the effort of the lawmaker for North Tongu to get the sale halted is a welcome move.

    “Organised Labour lost the battle; that’s why the intervention of the MPs was critical,” he said on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Monday, June 17.

    Mr Ablakwa had said he wants President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to halt the sale of the hotels, hence the Hands Off Our Hotels Demonstration’ today, Tuesday, June 18.

    Mr Ablakwa told the media on Monday, June 17, that “President Akufo-Addo must immediately stop the sale of our SSNIT hotels.

    “We want an immediate declaration from the president because since we started, all he has done is tell Organised Labour to go and meet the Employment Minister at which meeting Organised Labour told us that they tried to convince them to allow the sale, so clearly, the president and his appointees don’t want to stop the sale, and we are going to insist that they back out.”

    The Minority in Parliament has thrown its support behind the demonstration. The Minority in a statement, also urged the public to join the demonstration.

    “We, therefore, want to use this opportunity to indicate the Minority’s strong opposition to the sale of these hotels to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Bryan Acheampong, and urge the public to join Tuesday’s “Hands Off Our Hotels Demonstration” to send a strong signal to the government that the people of Ghana take exception to this shady deal. Enough is enough!

    “The attempt to sell off profitable state-owned hotels to Hon. Bryan Acheampong is wrong, unacceptable and must not be condoned,’ their statement said.

  • Agric Minister must focus on addressing sky rocketing food prices – Ablakwa

    Agric Minister must focus on addressing sky rocketing food prices – Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa has denounced Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong for neglecting his constitutional duties.

    Ablakwa expressed discontent over the sharp rise in food prices, which he argued is making life harder for Ghanaians.

    He criticized the Agriculture Minister for prioritizing negotiations on an SSNIT Social Security and National Insurance Trust deal that benefits him personally instead of addressing issues within the Agriculture Ministry.

    Ablakwa shared these sentiments on his Twitter page.

    See post below:

  • Sale of SSNIT Hotels: Bawumia’s Senior advisor implicated in Ablakwa’s exposé

    Sale of SSNIT Hotels: Bawumia’s Senior advisor implicated in Ablakwa’s exposé

    North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has released another exposé concerning the proposed sale of four government-majority-owned hotels.

    In recent weeks, Ablakwa has published documents supporting his claim that the planned sale of the majority shares of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to a company owned by Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong is not in the state’s best interest.

    According to Ablakwa, some documents reveal that the hotels in question were profitable, while the prospective buyer, Rock City Hotels Limited, was operating at a loss during the same period.

    In his latest revelation, Ablakwa highlighted that a senior aide in the Vice President’s office serves as the board chairman of one of the hotels, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

    He questioned the impartiality and advice this political appointee might offer in his role as board head.

    “Prof. Kwaku Appiah-Adu is not only a senior advisor to Ghana’s vice president, Alhaji Bawumia, he is the current board chair of La Palm Royal Hotel.

    “It would be interesting to know what his advice to the Vice President is as regards the infamous sale of SSNIT’s hotels to Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong,” Ablakwa’s post dated June 5, 2024, read in part.

    His post continued with probing questions as to what Bawumia’s position was on the deal given the proximity of his close aide to the issue.

    “How does Prof. Appiah-Adu also respond to claims from NPP propagandists and Majority Group Leader Afenyo-Markin that the current board and management of La Palm Royal Hotel are incompetent, inefficient and lack ideas, so in their opinion the sale to the extraordinarily competent and visionary Bryan Acheampong is justified?

    “If what these NPP propagandists and Majority Group Leader have said about the current board and management of La Palm Royal is true, what does that say about the quality of advice he’s giving the Vice President at the expense of suffering taxpayers who pay him for that kind of advice?” the post concluded.

    Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has tasked the Labour Minister to engage with organised labour who are demanding the planned sale to be halted.

  • SSNIT settled on 121m dollars for hotels yet agreed to Rock City’s 61m dollars offer – Ablakwa

    SSNIT settled on 121m dollars for hotels yet agreed to Rock City’s 61m dollars offer – Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has released additional documents to support his argument that the proposed sale of four state-owned hotels to a cabinet minister in office was a terrible bargain.

    In a recent commentary on the matter, Ablakwa shared an internal memo between the agri-minister Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City Hotels Limited and the state-owned pensions company, SSNIT.

    The “SSNIT-ROCK CITY GROUP SALE OF STAKE IN SSNIT HOTELS NEGOTIATION” paper provided a predetermined selling position for each of the hotels in question, including Elmina Beach Resort, La Palm Royal, Ridge Royal, and Labadi Beach Hotel.

    According to SSNIT’s appraisal, the combined value of all four hotels was more than US$121 million, although Rock City’s offer was just US$61.2 million.

    “The SSNIT memos in my possession reveal that SSNIT’s objective expectations based on valuation reports of 60% stake in the 4 hotels (Labadi, La Palm, Ridge Royal & Elmina) range from a minimum value of US$80,406,630.00 to a maximum of US$121,315,643.00.

    “From the intercepted memos, Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City offer fell far below the minimum value of the 4 hotels. Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s below par bid was US$61,200,000.00,” he added.

    He noted the significant losses that SSNIT stood to make if they pushed ahead with accepting the Rock City offer.

    Ablakwa was the first to report on the planned sale of SSNIT’s stake in the said hotels and has since adduced evidence to prove the deal was against the interest of the state and pensioners in particular.

    He has also filed a petition at CHRAJ to probe possible conflict of interest over the minister’s role in Rock City and his political position as minister and Member of Parliament.

    Read Ablakwa’s full post below:

    Intercepted memos from SSNIT on Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City offer for the purchase of SSNIT’s hotels confirm that but for my timely intervention in exposing the deal, Ghanaian workers would have been terribly shortchanged as the transaction does not guarantee value for money.

    The SSNIT memos in my possession reveal that SSNIT’s objective expectations based on valuation reports of 60% stake in the 4 hotels (Labadi, La Palm, Ridge Royal & Elmina) ranges from a minimum value of US$80,406,630.00 to a maximum of US$121,315,643.00.

    From the intercepted memos, Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City offer fell far below the minimum value of the 4 hotels. Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s below par bid was US$61,200,000.00.

    Considering that SSNIT’s own minimum value based on expert advice was pegged at US$80,406,630.00, the Hon. Bryan Acheampong/Rock City offer did not meet this minimum threshold by as much as US$19,206,630.00.

    When compared to the upper limit, Hon. Bryan Acheampong’s offer fell short by a staggering US$60,115,643.00

    It is instructive to discover that whereas SSNIT’s minimum offer for La Palm Royal Hotel is US$37,897,200.00, Hon. Bryan Acheampong merely offered US$21,000,000.00 (a significant variance of US$16,897,200.00).

    In the case of Elmina Beach Resort, SSNIT was advised to go for a minimum of US$4,709,430.00, however, Hon. Bryan Acheampong offered a paltry US$2,400,000.00.

    Analysts are fascinated by how the Hon. Bryan Acheampong/Rock City bids for Labadi Beach Hotel and Ridge Royal were exactly the same figures for SSNIT’s minimum expectations, raising suspicions about possible insider dealings and a rigged process.

    These intercepted memos once again expose the deceptive and bogus claims by unpatriotic NPP propagandists and their surrogates that Hon. Bryan Acheampong offered a fair price and that his bid is the best for Ghana.

    The clearest indication yet that these hotels were just being opaquely packaged for cheap on the blind side of Ghanaians to satisfy an obscene state capture agenda.

    Our agitations must continue unabated, ahead of the June 18 demonstration, since President Akufo-Addo contemptuously refuses to instruct his marauding appointees to take their hands off our hotels.

    We shall not be silent and lose these strategic national assets like the way we were taken by surprise with Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay now claiming to own the Labadi Hotel beachfront.

    I shall be back with more.

  • Bryan-SSNIT shares sale: Nothing but envy, dirty politics – NPP’s Saaka to Okudzeto

    Bryan-SSNIT shares sale: Nothing but envy, dirty politics – NPP’s Saaka to Okudzeto

    Communications team member of the ruling new Patriotic Party (NPP), Saaka Salia has accused Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa of being envious of Minister for Food and Agriculture and the owner of Rock City Hotel, Bryan Acheampong .

    This comes after the North Tongu MP took to social media to announce the Minister’s negotiations with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) since 2018 regarding the sale of a 60% stake in four SSNIT-owned hotels i.e Labadi Beach Hotel, LA Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, and Elmina Beach Resort.

    During an engagement with Berla Mundi on TV3’s new day show on May 22, 2024, the NPP communicator noted that, a sale of shares of a company does not indicate a sale of the company itself.

    There is nothing wrong with SSNIT resoling to sell some of its shares to a Ghanaian to make the best out of its opearations hence Ablakwa’s rants and decision to sponsor a bill against government officals procurement of state assest is out of sheer envy and dirty politics.

    “This is envy, envy people are envious of Bryan Acheampong If not for envy and dirty politics. I’m telling you, Okudzeto cannot have any other reason. Envious to the extent that they think that this guy let’s bring him down.

    Two reasons the thing is envious; he thinks that let’s bring Bryan Acheampong to our level. And the second one is dirty politics. Why would you go and politics” he said

    On his part, the decision to sale this shares was a sole decision by SSNIT and not the government.

    “You see when you offload shares, it is the shares that you have sold not the company. Currently as we speak, Ghana government has 30% stake.. But you see I can understand people just want the government to look bad, but this is SSNIT, it is SSNIT that is making a decision itself, and the decision says that we want international companies all over the world to bid for this, we want SSNIT hotels that are doing well in a way and those that aren’t doing well we want them to do better.

    So we want a strategic partner that is a Ghanaian” he added.

    Meanwhile, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, he announced via a Facebook post his intention to sponsor a private member’s bill in Parliament.

    The bill seeks to prevent politicians and politically exposed individuals from purchasing state assets by closing all loopholes in the current legal framework.

    Ablakwa’s initiatives also include a petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), requesting an investigation into the sale and urging CHRAJ to halt the transaction.

    He cited concerns about a lack of due process and breaches of procurement procedures.

  • Director of imaginary Keta Port enjoys full salary, mouthwatering perks at taxpayers’ expense – Ablakwa

    Director of imaginary Keta Port enjoys full salary, mouthwatering perks at taxpayers’ expense – Ablakwa

    North Tongu MP Okudzeto Ablakwa has uncovered a significant issue regarding the purported Keta Port project.

    Through a Twitter post, Ablakwa revealed that substantial government funds have been directed towards constructing an administration block for a port that does not yet exist.

    The documents intercepted by Ablakwa show a noteworthy allocation approved by the Ghanaian government, specifically for the administration block of the Keta Port.

    This revelation has raised questions about the rationale behind such funding, especially given President Akufo-Addo’s earlier suggestions of progress on the Keta Port.

    Ablakwa’s scrutiny extends to the appointment of a director for a port that remains imaginary.

    Ablakwa pointed out that this director has been receiving salaries, allowances, and other benefits for more than five years, despite the absence of tangible progress on the Keta Port.

    In a statement shared on Twitter, Ablakwa stated, “After President Akufo-Addo infamously appointed a Director of the non-existent Keta Port in March 2019, latest intercepted documents reveal that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration after 5 years is now allocating funds for the construction of an Administration Block (not the actual port). Meanwhile, the Director of the imaginary Keta Port, Alexander Yaw Adusei Jnr., has been enjoying full salaries, allowances, official vehicles, and other mouthwatering perks of office at taxpayer expense for more than 5 years when already employed experienced staff of GPHA could have overseen the establishment of the Keta Port.”

    Ablakwa’s findings highlight concerns about the utilization of public funds and the management of infrastructure projects in Ghana.

    See post below:

  • Non-existent Keta Port set to get administration block funded by Akufo-Addo – Ablakwa reveals

    Non-existent Keta Port set to get administration block funded by Akufo-Addo – Ablakwa reveals

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has brought to light a concerning development regarding the supposed Keta Port project.

    Ablakwa shared on his Twitter account that a significant amount of funding allocated by the Ghanaian government is directed towards constructing an administration block for the non-existent port.

    Ablakwa raised questions about the motives behind this allocation, especially considering President Akufo-Addo‘s previous statements implying the existence of the Keta Port.

    He criticised the appointment of a director for a port that does not physically exist, noting that this director has been receiving salaries, allowances, and other benefits for over five years.

    In a statement on Twitter, Ablakwa highlighted, “After President Akufo-Addo infamously appointed a Director of the non-existent Keta Port in March 2019, latest intercepted documents reveal that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration after 5 years is now allocating funds for the construction of an Administration Block (not the actual port).

    Meanwhile, the Director of the imaginary Keta Port, Alexander Yaw Adusei Jnr., has been enjoying full salaries, allowances, official vehicles, and other mouthwatering perks of office at taxpayer expense for more than 5 years when already employed experienced staff of GPHA could have overseen the establishment of the Keta Port.”

    This revelation by Ablakwa has sparked concerns about the allocation of resources and the management of infrastructure projects in Ghana.

    See post below:

  • National Cathedral: “Cursed” Ablakwa, the reason for his constituents woes! – Maurice Ampaw

    National Cathedral: “Cursed” Ablakwa, the reason for his constituents woes! – Maurice Ampaw

    Controversial and private legal practitioner, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw, slammed Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, over the MPs expose of the ‘darks’ surrounding the project and its execution.

    Speaking on his “Mmra Ne Abrabo Mu Nsem show on Wontumi Media, the outspoken radio show host slammed Ablakwa for being a “Satan” against the fruition of “God’s vision and agenda,” i.e., the National Cathedral project.

    “You have been surviving with taxpayer money since. Show me what you have achieved in life before you became an MP. All of you have made it with reliance on taxpayers money.

    “You have turned yourself into Satan,” he noted.

    His remarks follow Ablakwa’s publications of the ‘outrageous and unapproved’ funds pumped into the project, which is barely seen as a proper star aside from a foundation.

    Ablakwa, along with other critics, has raised concerns about the use of public funds for the construction of the National Cathedral, especially in a country with pressing socio-economic needs. He has questioned the priority of the project and called for transparency and accountability in its financing and implementation.

    However, the private legal practitioner believes that the MP’s vocability regarding the project has placed a curse on him, which his constituents are suffering from.

    On his part, the damming impact of the Akosombo Dam Spillage on some parts of Ketu is a result of Ablakwa’s bad luck.

    For their own good, Mr Ampaw has therefore warned the constituents to vote Ablakwa out of power or risk what he describes as “disaster upon disaster.”

    “Do you even qualify to lead people? and to the people Ablakwa is leading , you better get rid of him; he is the cause of your woes. There is a curse on your life .That is what happens when you attack a national cathedral.Those Ketu disturbances and  the flood. it’s a curse. A curse is following him.

    Get rid of him before things get worse .Otherwise, it will be disaster upon disaster. Because this guy is attacking the vision of God,” he fumed.

    He went on to warn the North Tongu MP to stay away from conversations regarding the National Cathedral.

    “Let me catch you talking about the national cathedral again and you will see what I will do to you,” he warned.

  • There is nothing Ablakwa can do about increase in passport fees – Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister

    There is nothing Ablakwa can do about increase in passport fees – Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister


    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Reintegration has firmly stated that there will be no reconsideration of the recent adjustments made to passport application fees.

    This declaration comes in response to remarks made by Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament and MP for North Tongu, who criticized the new fees as draconian and urged for their reversal.

    As of April 1, the ministry implemented an increase in application fees for passport services, establishing them at GH¢500 for a 32-page standard booklet and GH¢644 for a 48-page standard booklet.

    Furthermore, expedited services now come with fees of GH¢700 for the 32-page option and GH¢800 for the 48-page option.

    Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, reiterated that the fees would remain unchanged despite calls for a review.

    Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong emphasized the importance of the fee adjustments for investing in and improving service delivery, asserting that any attempts to contest the decision would be unsuccessful.

    He told journalists: “With the support of the majority of Ghanaians, it has come to stay”, adding: “There is nothing he [Mr Ablakwa] can do about it. He can make his noise out there. If he wants to bring it to Parliament, we will meet him on the floor of Parliament, we will discuss it and will debate it; and at the end of the day, I can bet my last cedi he will fall flat on his face”. 

    “The reason why we are introducing this, like I said, principally, is the fact that we need to invest and improve service delivery”, he explained.

  • One of Ghana’s biggest scandals is the hosting of the 13th African Games – Okudzeto Ablakwa

    One of Ghana’s biggest scandals is the hosting of the 13th African Games – Okudzeto Ablakwa

    MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed concern over the treatment of athletes at the 13th African Games.

    His remarks follow revelations by Ghanaian badminton player Leslie Addo, who shed light on the difficult conditions faced by athletes during the ongoing games in the country.

    Ablakwa raised questions about the substantial funds allocated to the event, citing that the Ministry of Youth and Sports received a significant amount of GH¢215,558,167.32 from the Ministry of Finance.

    The MP questioned the allocation of these funds, highlighting that despite Ghana’s economic challenges, taxpayers contributed over GH¢412 million, raising concerns about the issues athletes are currently facing.

    “It’s really heartbreaking listening to Ghanaian athletes at the 13th African Games lament about official neglect, buying their own kits, arriving to games in buckets of rickety pick-up trucks, etc. “From my impeccable oversight tracking, Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has received a massive GH¢215,558,167.32 from the Ministry of Finance for such expenditures.

    “I am also keenly monitoring outstanding PVs from single-sourced contractors amounting to a staggering GH¢196,553,919.54, which are about to be paid this week. “Our athletes do not deserve this shabby and cruel treatment when, despite Ghana’s current economic crisis, taxpayers are coughing over GH¢412 million for the very things athletes are complaining about. Where is all the money going? Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games is the next big scandal,” he said in a Twitter post on March 10, 2024.

    In a recent interview, Leslie Addo revealed that he and his teammates had to resort to sitting in the bed of a pickup truck to reach the match venue in Borteyman.

    Addo, a member of Ghana’s men’s doubles badminton team, voiced his frustration over the team’s transportation issues.

    He explained that the team had no alternative but to use their coach’s private pick-up truck. With limited space inside the vehicle, some players had to sit in the bed of the truck, putting their safety at risk.

    “Today, when we were coming to play our matches, we sat in our coach’s vehicle and it was a pick-up, so most of us were in the bucket. We didn’t get any transport. We, the host nation, are playing for the country and no one is supporting us,” he lamented.

    In addition to the existing complaints, Addo highlighted that despite the Ministry of Youth and Sports renting a fleet of 332 vehicles, including luxury cars and buses, for the games, the badminton team still faced transportation challenges.

    They had to rely on their coach’s pickup truck, which was inadequate for their needs.

  • “GH33.4m per day”? This is not the Ablakwa I know – Kwaku Yeboah on African Games budget

    “GH33.4m per day”? This is not the Ablakwa I know – Kwaku Yeboah on African Games budget

    Spokesperson of the Local Organising Committee for the 2023 African Games, Dan Kwaku Yeboah, has dismissed Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s recent disclosures regarding the government’s budget and planned expenditures for the event as politically motivated.

    Yeboah, who expressed his admiration for Ablakwa in the past, suggested that the latter’s allegations were driven by partisan interests, particularly in favor of the National Democratic Congress.

    During an interview on Neat FM, Yeboah did not dispute Ablakwa’s figures but criticised the political narrative accompanying them.

    He argued that Ablakwa’s analysis was oversimplified, particularly regarding the $48 million budget allocated for operational expenses, which Yeboah clarified to cover expenses before and after the 18-day event period.

    Yeboah emphasised the need to consider expenses beyond the competition dates in understanding the budget’s scope accurately.

    “Some of the claims he made are due to the season we find ourselves in. The intelligent Okudzeto, I know, wouldn’t make that analysis on a regular day. The LOC was formed in October 2020, so if you calculate our expenses based on just the 18 days the tournament will be held, then you are being too simplistic. Per his calculation, we are going to spend GH₵33.4m per day. If you convert to the old currency, it is 33 billion cedis daily. Are we going to kill cows every day at the LOC?” he asked.

    Dan Kwaku Yeboah also reminded Ghanaians of the cost-intensive nature of putting together a tournament like the African Games.

    He highlighted some things that contributed to the budget that Okudzeto Ablakwa described as elephantine.

    “We need to understand that African games are expensive. Unlike FIFA and CAF, who give you money to host their tournaments, the African Union rather takes money from you for winning the rights to host their tournaments.

    “We are hosting 29 disciplines, and we have to buy equipment for all athletes who will be partaking in all 29 disciplines. According to WADA, Ghana doesn’t have a standard laboratory for anti-doping, so all the doping tests that will be conducted during the competition will be finalised in Switzerland,” he added.

  • President Akufo-Addo’s elephantine, wrongful and unconscionable US$48m operational expenses for the 13th African games – Ablakwa writes

    President Akufo-Addo’s elephantine, wrongful and unconscionable US$48m operational expenses for the 13th African games – Ablakwa writes

    1. Even before the dust settles on the scandalous US$8.5million AFCON budget brouhaha; unimpeachable, unassailable and incontrovertible intercepted documents in my possession reveal for the first time that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his appointees at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have shockingly agreed to spend an elephantine, wrongful and unconscionable US$48million on so-called “operational expenses” for the 13th African Games to be hosted in Ghana between the period — March 5 to March 23, 2024. [Refer to intercepted documents attached] 

    2. It must be noted that this staggering US$48million is an entirely different amount from the mega US$195million (GHS2.4billion) already spent on infrastructure for the games. 

    3. At the prevailing exchange rate, US$48million is equivalent to a colossal GHS602million. 

    4. A careful reading of the intercepted February 13, 2024 letter signed by the LOC Executive Chairman, Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare confirms that this ginormous US$48million (GHS602million) will be spent in less than a three week period (18 days). This translates into a 6-day weekly expenditure on “operational expenses” of a mind boggling GHS200.6million, and an even more incredible daily “operational expenses” of GHS33.4million. 

    5. It is most instructive to note that apart from the blatant profligacy and reckless wastefulness by the leader of a bankrupt, debt-distress IMF bailout country; President Akufo-Addo’s conduct is absolutely wrong because Parliament approved GHS100million under Goods and Services and then GHS50million for Capital Expenditure for the 2024 expenditure by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on the 13th African Games. [see page 230 of 2024 Budget as attached]. It is therefore totally lawless and utterly repugnant for President Akufo-Addo to unilaterally vary by more than six times what Parliament has approved for non-CapEX — that is from GHS100million to GHS602million. 

    6. The intercepted documents confirm that despite Parliament’s approval of only GHS100million, President Akufo-Addo instructed the LOC to send out official request letters as recent as February 13, 2024 in which they defy Parliament and communicate their outlandish, unlawful and unjustifiable US$48million (GHS602million). 

    7. It is regrettable to note that instead of President Akufo-Addo and his appointees at the Sports Ministry and LOC acknowledging Ghana’s current economic crisis and slashing their ostentatious US$48million (GHS602million) “operational expenses” budget, he rather proceeded to personally chair fundraising meetings on the 6th and 7th of November, 2023 at the Jubilee House with an objective of raising the US$48million (GHS602million). [See evidence of the President’s meetings attached]. 

    8. A number of top executives who have received the Akufo-Addo-inspired US$48million (GHS602million) shocking request letter are outraged about the quantum for a broke country and the deliberate refusal to transparently present a breakdown. 

    9. Careful analysis of the entities President Akufo-Addo met during his now infamous fundraising engagements show that the President is mainly interested in public funds either by targeting SOEs such as GNPC, Ghana Gas, BOST and GOIL; or by targeting private companies such as MacDan, Zoomlion, MODEC and Kosmos all noted for executing huge government contracts. 

    10. Additionally, the President’s conduct raises fundamental ethical questions: how did the President select these companies? What promises did President Akufo-Addo make to these CEOs? How can other companies compete fairly with these “presidential companies” in any competitive bidding process, particularly considering the current single-source procurement epidemic? After these companies present their US$5million sponsorship cash to the President’s

  • AFCON budget wasn’t approved, GFA failed to show up for questioning in Parliament – Ablakwa

    AFCON budget wasn’t approved, GFA failed to show up for questioning in Parliament – Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed a significant mistake in how Ghana’s participation in the AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast was handled.

    Surprisingly, the $8.5 million budget for the event was not approved by Parliament before the national team took part.

    Ghana’s disappointing exit from the AFCON, not making it past the group stage for the second time, is now coupled with the discovery that proper parliamentary procedures were not followed.

    It seems both the Sports Ministry and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) didn’t fulfil their duty to go before Parliament to explain and defend the budget, as required by law.

    Mr. Ablakwa, speaking on Luv FM, pointed out the strange behaviour of the Sports Ministry and the GFA. He mentioned that their hesitance to present the budget raised suspicions among members of Parliament.

    According to him, their reasons were weak, and attempts to get information about the allocated funds for AFCON were met with resistance.

  • Detractor! You are just not happy NPP primaries was peaceful – GFA blast Ablakwa over budget expose

    Detractor! You are just not happy NPP primaries was peaceful – GFA blast Ablakwa over budget expose

    North Tongu member of Parliament, Okudzeto Ablakwa’s expose of the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) ‘oversized’ budget appears to have fallen on the wrong side of the association.

    Mr Ablakwa took to his social media on January 29, 2024, with purported documents from the Ministry of Youth and Sports containing what was believed to be an agreed-upon budget of $8.5 million (about GH¢105 million) for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by government and

    He claimed that he had intercepted documents that showed that the government and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had agreed on a whooping budget of $8.5 million (about GH¢105 million) for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and this budget, he said, was separate from the GH¢27.9 million that was spent on the qualifiers.

    In response to this, an Executive Council member of the GFA, Nana Oduro Sarfo, during an interview on Asempa FM, accused Ablakwa of being a detractor whose goal is to” influence public discourse and deflect our focus from important issues” because he “did not like the fact that the New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary primaries were peaceful, free and fair.”

    He further went on to caution Mr Ablakwa to stop playing politics with football and focus on his mandate in Parliament.

    “He should concentrate on his job of passing bills in Parliament and stop engaging in small, small cheap politics in football. It is not the best” he fumed.

    The GFA also issued a statement, cautioning Ablakwa to stop the cheap politics and focus on policies. They said that the budget was not final and that it was subject to review and approval by the relevant authorities

  • You are not getting any apology from me – Okudzeto Ablakwa to GRA

    You are not getting any apology from me – Okudzeto Ablakwa to GRA


    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa,     has responded to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) regarding his earlier claims about Commissioner-General, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah.

    The tax mobilisation agency had demanded an apology from Ablakwa for stating that the GRA boss had fled the country amidst an investigation into a significant corruption scandal involving the GRA.

    A GRA statement refuted reports of Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah absconding, clarifying that he was on a scheduled six-day leave and would resume work on January 15, 2024.

    The GRA characterised Ablakwa’s assertions as a “malicious, sensational, misleading, and deliberate attempt to damage the reputation” of the Commissioner-General and the GRA.

    However, Ablakwa stood firm, expressing in a rejoinder, “Let me assure the GRA that I do not owe them an apology, and they surely are not going to get one.”

    He insisted that the GRA’s response failed to discredit the findings of his parliamentary oversight and criticized the circumstances surrounding the Commissioner-General’s leave during the ongoing audit ordered by the president.

    Pointing out the GRA’s statement that Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah left Ghana on January 3, 2024, and is set to resume work on January 15, 2024, Ablakwa questioned the legitimacy of describing it as a six-day leave, emphasising that it coincides with the entire promised two-week audit period in a Facebook post.

    “The GRA release further states that Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah is on a 6-day leave and will resume work on January 15, 2024. This does not add up. The GRA Commissioner-General left Ghana on January 3, 2024 — a few hours after the January 2, 2024 presidential directive of a KPMG audit.

    Leaving Ghana on the 3rd of January, 2024 and resuming work on the 15th of January, 2024 which instructively is the entire period of the promised 2-week audit, cannot be described as a 6-day leave,” he stated.

    Ablakwa accused the government of opting for deception and a cover-up instead of an honest and transparent investigation into the alleged $100 million SML scandal.

    He concluded by asserting his commitment to constitutional oversight and transparency, stating, “Nothing will stop us from pursuing our constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight. Forward ever, backward never! For God and Country. Ghana First.”

    Read Ablakwa’s response below:

    I have become aware of the GRA statement.

    Let me assure the GRA that I do not owe them an apology, and they surely are not going to get one.

    The GRA response abysmally fails to discredit the findings of my unimpeachable parliamentary oversight.

    Consistent with the revelations I published, the GRA has only confirmed that Ghana is the only country in the world where the President orders a crucial audit into a ginormous scandal and the head of the organisation under audit is concurrently allowed to proceed on leave and assisted to travel out of the country during the said audit — absolutely incredulous!

    Under another incorruptible President, this GRA boss would have been fired for daring to leave the jurisdiction during such a high profile national audit into the create, loot and share scheme he collaborated with Ken Ofori-Atta to perpetrate.

    The GRA release further states that Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah is on a 6-day leave and will resume work on January 15, 2024. This does not add up. The GRA Commissioner-General left Ghana on January 3, 2024—a few hours after the January 2, 2024 presidential directive for a KPMG audit.

    Leaving Ghana on the 3rd of January, 2024 and resuming work on the 15th of January, 2024 which instructively is the entire period of the promised 2-week audit, cannot be described as a 6-day leave.

    These bizarre developments and blatant official untruths are bound to happen when a corrupt government opts for deception and a grand cover-up instead of an honest, transparent and credible investigation into the US$100 million SML scandal.

    Nothing will stop us from pursuing our constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight. Forward ever, backward never!

    For God and Country.

    Ghana First.

  • Mahama can be trusted to deliver on 24-Hour Economy policy – Okudzeto Ablakwa

    Mahama can be trusted to deliver on 24-Hour Economy policy – Okudzeto Ablakwa

    KUNorth Tongu’s Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has affirmed his confidence that the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress, John Mahama, will fulfill the promised 24-hour economy policy.

    Ablakwa emphasized that this policy is the solution to Ghana’s economic challenges, as it prioritizes industrialization and job creation. He urged Ghanaians to unite in support of this initiative for the betterment of the country.

    “We have a transformational leader in former President Mahama, who is dynamic, who is visionary, who gets the job done. He is the one who gets results, so when he says he will deliver a 24-hour economy, you know you can trust him”, Mr. Ablakwa said while speaking to JoyNews at the NDC’s stand at the ongoing 6th Volta Trade and Investment Fair in Ho.

    Mr. Ablakwa emphasized the viability of implementing a 24-hour economy, citing examples from advanced nations and suggesting that Ghana could follow suit. He outlined the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) approach to this policy, highlighting the implementation of a 3-shift system for both public and private companies to sustain continuous economic activity.

    Ablakwa clarified that private enterprises participating in the 24-hour economy initiative would receive various incentives, including tax rebates and discounted utility rates, to facilitate the adoption of the proposed 3-shift system.

    Contrary to a claim by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the 24-hour economy is already in practice, Ablakwa refuted this assertion. He dismissed the government’s 2024 budget, which focused on the night economy, as an incomplete policy introduced as an afterthought.

    “There is no 24-hour economy in practice, there is no such policy. I am a Member of Parliament, where is the blueprint, where is the policy, where is the legislation that is backing their so-called 24-hour economy? It doesn’t exist.

    “They continue with the dishonesty and the last time their candidate sought to confirm that this [24-hour economy] exists he was talking about chop bars, that there are a few chop bars operating at night. We [NDC] are not talking about Bawumia’s chop bars, we are talking about a whole economic transformation”, he stressed.

    At the Volta Trade and Investment Fair, which is currently taking place at Ho’s Jubilee Park, the NDC set up shop to pitch its proposed 24-hour Economy Policy to both exhibitors and attendees.

  • I have experienced Ghanaians generosity – Okudzeto Ablakwa overwhelmed by donations towards dam spillage victims

    I have experienced Ghanaians generosity – Okudzeto Ablakwa overwhelmed by donations towards dam spillage victims

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed gratitude to the Ghanaian populace for what he terms their unwavering and unexpected show of love to the flood victims in the Volta Region.

    According to the lawmaker, he is overwhelmed by the kind of donations undertaken by some Ghanaians to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens who were affected by the Akosombo Dam-induced floods.

    In a conversation with Bola Ray on Starr Chat, he added that Ghanaians, in the face of the hardship in the flood-hit areas in the Volta Region, have outdone themselves.

    “I want to take a moment to celebrate Ghanaians. To be honest with you Bola Ray, I have been so moved by the generosity and compassion of Ghanaians. You know, we’ve always known we are nice people, we are warm, and Ghanaians are hospitable, but I have experienced it. You know, as we say on the streets, ‘feeligadochi’. You know, I’m just lost for words. I mean, first-hand experience. People just call you; look, we are in your constituency; where are you? You don’t have to call anybody or beg anybody. People are just pouring in,” he stressed.

    The Volta River Authority (VRA) initiated its controlled spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to the consistent rise in the upstream water level of the Akosombo Dam, primarily caused by rainfall.

    Since the spillage exercise began, some communities downstream of the Volta River have been submerged due to the excessive water from the dam.

    Residents in these areas were left stranded as their homes were submerged by the flood.

    However, several Ghanaians have come to their rescue by providing food, money, shelter and clothes for the victims.

  • Ablakwa to submit motion for a live coverage of inquiry into Volta flooding

    Ablakwa to submit motion for a live coverage of inquiry into Volta flooding

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced his intention to submit a motion in parliament, requesting a comprehensive inquiry into the causes of the flooding in certain areas of the Volta Region.

    He also emphasized that this investigation should be broadcast live, allowing the public to witness the circumstances surrounding the Akosombo Dam spillage.

    These remarks came in response to a statement by the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Freda Prempeh, which implied that residents in Mepe and other affected areas had declined evacuation.

    Ablakwa criticized this statement as false and disrespectful and pledged to ensure a public investigation into the matter.

    “We are filing a motion for a full-scale probe. It will be live on television, and we will know exactly what happened. All these blatant lies will be exposed. The officials who caused this will face the law and we will demand full compensation,” he said, as the report indicated.

    The North Tongu MP further challenged the sanitation minister to show him the locations the government had designated before the Akosombo Dam began to leak water.

    “These Akufo Addo ministers should stop adding insults to injuries; we are pained, depressed, and devastated. They should stop these things. We have had enough of their blatant lies; she should tell us when and the date. When did they come here? She herself—has she come here before? The people should move to where?

    “She should show us where it was constructed for my people to move to; they refused to go. Was it the military, NADMO, or who?” he said.

  • Your ‘mumbo jumbo’ press statement still failed to mention cost of new head office – Ablakwa tackles BoG

    Your ‘mumbo jumbo’ press statement still failed to mention cost of new head office – Ablakwa tackles BoG

    Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, has raised serious concerns about the ongoing “legacy head office” construction project and has called for increased transparency in its execution. The project has come under scrutiny for its alleged lack of openness, budget overruns, and perceived deviations from proper procurement procedures.

    Ablakwa’s criticism is directed at what he refers to as the “MisGovernor Addison,” an individual associated with the project. In a strongly-worded statement, Ablakwa expressed dismay over the secrecy surrounding the total cost of the project. Despite official press conferences and statements, Ablakwa highlights the absence of a clear disclosure of the project’s expenses. Notably, he claims that the project’s cost has ballooned to US$222.79 million, a figure that excludes the land acquisition cost. Ablakwa’s statements suggest that the lack of transparency raises concerns about accountability.

    The MP also draws attention to the budget overruns that have plagued the project. Originally approved by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) with a budget of US$81.8 million, the project’s current cost stands at nearly three times that amount. Ablakwa’s criticism implies that the substantial increase indicates a lack of prudent financial management and raises questions about the decision-making process.

    Ablakwa further raises issues regarding the financial implications of the project on the central bank. He cites alleged losses of GHS60.8 billion and negative equity of GHS55.1 billion that are attributed to the project. These figures, according to Ablakwa, underscore the detrimental impact of the project on the country’s finances and have fueled growing discontent.

    The MP also points out concerns surrounding the timing of the project. Ablakwa questions the wisdom of embarking on such an extensive project during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and continuing through subsequent economic challenges. He contends that starting the project during such times demonstrates questionable decision-making and priorities.

    Procurement procedures have also come under scrutiny in Ablakwa’s critique. He alleges breaches in these procedures, including claims that construction began before obtaining necessary approvals. Additionally, Ablakwa questions the use of specific sections of procurement law to justify certain actions, asserting that these actions have raised suspicions.

    In light of these concerns, Ablakwa calls for increased accountability and transparency in the execution of the project. He emphasizes the need for proper investigations into the procurement process, budget management, and the partnerships involved. Ablakwa’s statement underscores the importance of adhering to established regulations and upholding the highest standards of financial responsibility in major public projects.

    As the controversy continues to gain momentum, Ablakwa’s vocal criticism adds to the growing demand for greater transparency and oversight in the execution of the “legacy head office” project.

  • How BoG allegedly gave US$3.45m to unregistered company MULTICAD through single sourcing

    How BoG allegedly gave US$3.45m to unregistered company MULTICAD through single sourcing

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a startling revelation, has uncovered what he alleges to be another case of reckless conduct by the Addison-led Central Bank.

    This time, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) is accused of awarding a lucrative US$3.45 million project management contract to a company named MULTICAD through single sourcing, a move he says raises concerns about transparency and fair competition.

    The information emerged as Ablakwa and his team of investigators delved deeper into the intricate web surrounding the BoG’s head office project.

    The procurement of MULTICAD’s services, as detailed in a Public Procurement Authority (PPA) letter dated September 22, 2021, according to Ablakwa violated the conditions outlined in Section 40 of Act 663, which governs the rules for single sourcing.

    He argued that the circumstances surrounding the deal do not provide a compelling and genuine reason for MULTICAD to have been awarded such a significant contract without a competitive bidding process.

    The company, Ablakwa reveals, was registered on December 10, 2021, about three months after it was awarded the contract. It seemingly secured PPA approval before its official registration, leading to the MPs questions about the timeline of events.

    Mr Ablakwa also noted that Governor Addison’s involvement in championing MULTICAD’s single-sourced contract raises suspicions.

    The MP wondered the motivation behind sidelining other potential competitors who could have provided more value for money. This move, to him appears contradictory, given the current administration’s past vocal opposition against single-sourced projects, citing potential risks and lack of transparency.

    These allegations put the BoG under renewed scrutiny. Concerns about accountability, fairness, and the potential misuse of public funds have ignited a public discourse, with citizens demanding transparency and clear answers from the Central Bank’s leadership, following news about the expense made on the Bank’s new head office project.

    This new revelation however, is an allegation by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, yet to be responded to by the BoG.

    The matter continues to develop as stakeholders and the public await further clarification from the Central Bank regarding the specifics of the contract award, the selection process, and the rationale behind the decision to single-source MULTICAD for the project management role. A response from The Bank of Ghana, which is yet to happen, together with any further developments may provide additional context and insights.

    Read Okudzeto 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, MisGovernor 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.

    For God and Country.

  • ‘Prime Minister’ Gabby in pains and tears – Okudzeto mocks

    ‘Prime Minister’ Gabby in pains and tears – Okudzeto mocks

    Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has playfully mocked Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a cousin of the president, by using the “Prime Minister” label that is sometimes assigned to him in political circles.

    Ablakwa, who had earlier alleged that Gabby was representing a firm claiming 187 million cedis from the state, asserted that the payment demand had been suspended due to his “Kitchen Scandal” exposé.

    Gabby responded by posting an article about Ablakwa’s claim on Twitter, suggesting that Ablakwa was making himself laugh. In response, Ablakwa quoted Gabby’s tweet and retorted, “Prime Minister in Pains and Tears. What really matters is the incontrovertible fact that the ‘Kitchen Scandal’ exposé has saved Ghanaians a staggering GHS187.3 million. Cash-out aborted! We successfully saved the battered public purse. For God & Country. Ghana First.”

    Gabby had initially tweeted, “Laughable. You created a ‘scandal’ against your own NDC! You’ve made Ken Ofori-Atta look good for ‘standing up’ 2yrs against his ‘influential’ cousin, representing a client with a good case over a contract President Mahama awarded, which you now question!”

    In his earlier exposé, Ablakwa alleged that Gabby was seeking payment of GH¢187.3 million judgment debt to his client, West Blue, despite the government varying the contract. Ablakwa’s exposé had caused the government to reconsider its position and saved the nation millions in judgment debt.

    Ablakwa clarified that his exposés were not intended to make him popular or the government unpopular, but rather to protect the interests of Ghanaians and ensure transparency in the government’s actions. He highlighted the impact of his “Kitchen Scandal” exposé in saving millions for public use.

  • Minority requests GRA not to pay West Blue Company GHC187m dispute

    Minority requests GRA not to pay West Blue Company GHC187m dispute

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been urged by the minority in parliament to refuse to pay a sum of 187 million cedis that is allegedly owing to West Blue, a private corporation.

    They claim that the West Blue company’s legal counsel, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has been sending letters to the GRA and the Finance Ministry to put pressure on them to pay the business.

    North Tongu MP and the ranking member of the foreign affairs committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said they have brought the issue to the Finance Committee’s attention for further review.

  • “A waste of time” – Fifi Kwetey after court dismisses contempt case against Okudzeto

    “A waste of time” – Fifi Kwetey after court dismisses contempt case against Okudzeto

    Former Member of Parliament for Ketu South and National General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey is displeased with the contempt case brought against North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa by Victor Kusi Boateng.

    According to the court, the evidence presented by the plaintiff, Victor Kusi Boateng is fraught with inconsistencies and doubt. 

    It added that the contempt application, therefore, failed to meet the legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

    NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey speaking shortly after the ruling said the case was an exercise in futility. 

    According to the former Ketu South MP, it was an attempt to stop the truth. 

    “We were absolutely in no doubt at all. We knew that the truth will definitely prevail. It was clearly an exercise in futility. It was a waste of everyone’s time and attempt to stop what we knew was the truth. 

    “It is sad that the country has been reduced to this as people who are actually doing what is right have to be put through this,” he said. 

    A motion filed by Rev Kusi Boateng, Secretary to the Board of the National Cathedral sought to have the North Tongu MP, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa restrained and imprisoned for allegedly kicking court documents. 

    Rev Kusi Boateng, also known as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, in a contempt summons on Tuesday, February 7, said: “I am informed by my Counsel and verily believe same to be true that this Honourable Court has the power to commit the Respondent to prison for his conduct to protect the whole administration of justice and serve as a deterrent to other persons.”

    The process follows claims that the MP kicked a writ being served on him by a court bailiff on Friday, February 3.

    However, the court disagreed with the plaintiff and threw out the application. 

  • Parliament to establish committee to probe National Cathedral

    Parliament to establish committee to probe National Cathedral

    The National Cathedral and all related issues will be investigated by a committee, according to a private members’ proposal accepted by the Speaker of Parliament from the Minority caucus.

    The Committee will also make appropriate recommendations for consideration of Parliament.

    The National Cathedral project has been engulfed in several controversies and has also faced stiff opposition with a section of the public being of the view that the project is not relevant considering Ghana’s economic woes.

    But President Akufo-Addo has on numerous occasions stated that he will build the cathedral regardless of the opposition from the public.

    The Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral in January this year also resolved to subject the project to a “normal statutory audit”.

    This followed what the Board said are recent nagging issues that have enveloped the construction process.

    It has engaged the services of an audit firm, Deloitte for the audit work to begin.

    “The Board is already in discussions to engage Deloitte, which accepted to be the auditors when the National Cathedral was registered, to commence the normal statutory audit”, the Board through its Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah said in a statement.

    The Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Kusi Boateng has also been fingered by Okudzeto Ablakwa for having multiple identities and receiving some 2.6 million cedis for no work done.

    Two members of the Board of Trustees – Founder and Leader of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba, President of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries have called for an immediate suspension of the construction of the National Cathedral pending an audit of the project.

  • GHC20m on calls and internet, GHC 15m on car tyres and batteries; Akufo-Addo’s office expenses in 9 months

    GHC20m on calls and internet, GHC 15m on car tyres and batteries; Akufo-Addo’s office expenses in 9 months

    Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has yet again made another damning revelation about how the Presidency squanders the taxpayers’ money.

    He alleged in his latest release that the Office of the President spent over GHC 20 million on internet and call charges, among other expenses, in a span of nine months (January 2022 to September 2022).

    Taking to twitter, Mr Ablakwa also disclosed that the Presidency spent a “whooping” GHC 16.9 million (16,906,272.45) on President Akufo-Addo’s regional tours.

    Additionally, he mentioned the Presidency spent GHC 6.5 million (6,500,000.00) to purchase new vehicles despite a ban on imported official vehicles in March last year, as announced by the Finance Minister, among other things.

    Also, he disclosed that “tyres and batteries for official vehicles cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer an unbelievable GHC15million (15,000,000.00).”

    This adds to the number of revelations made by Mr Ablakwa about the President’s expenditure. He has been monitoring presidential travels on chartered jets since 2021. In June last year, he revealed that President Akufo-Addo spent GHC 34 million on luxury jet charters in 13 months. However, the Presidency contested this claim, describing it as false.

    With the details in the said report which he described as gut-wrenching, Mr Ablakwa concluded that the government was not taking seriously the request to dramatically reduce spending in the midst of an economic crisis.

    “I couldn’t agree more with the revered and celebrated Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference following their timely appeal to the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to “present a posture that is consistent with the fact that the country is in dire straits or crisis” and their further demand for “drastic government expenditure control”,” he said. 

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • I will seek redress against Ablakwa’s defamatory statements – Rev. Kusi Boateng

    I will seek redress against Ablakwa’s defamatory statements – Rev. Kusi Boateng

    Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, has hinted that he will take action with respect to deliberate defamation targeted at his person by a lawmaker.

    Rev. Kusi Boateng said he was currently committed to responding to a formal enquiry in respect of allegations made against him by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    The MP mentioned the clergyman in his ‘Mother of all scandals’ publication on January 16, 2023, alleging principally that Kusi Boateng was using two different identities on official documents.

    He had earlier on alleged that an amount of GH¢2.6 million was ‘irregularly’ paid out from the chest of the National Cathedral to JNS Talent Centre, a company closely associated to Kusi Boateng.

    In his response to the accusations, the clergyman stayed away from directly addressing the identity issue but said he welcomed the enquiry by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), following the lodging of an official petition by Ablakwa.

    Kusi Boateng’s statement of January 16, 2023 added: “When all is done, I will seek redress against Mr. Ablakwa for his deliberate defamatory statements against me.

    “I will continue to contribute my quota to the National Cathedral project and offer my services to the country to the best of my ability,” the statement concluded.

    Read the full statement by Kusi Boateng below:

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Reverend Kusi Boateng’s spiritual son to sue Okudzeto Ablakwa, Bright Simons for defamation

    Reverend Kusi Boateng’s spiritual son to sue Okudzeto Ablakwa, Bright Simons for defamation

    Welbeck Ampedu, a man who describes himself as a ‘spiritual son’ of embattled leader of the Power Chapel Worldwide, Reverend Kusi Boateng has vowed to institute legal action against Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament of North Tongu and Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa over their decision to share a flier with his image on it on social media.

    Michael Ampedu who is a reporter with the Multimedia Group claimed that the use of the flier has negatively affected his reputation and that he is heading to court to seek redress.

    Despite issuing a notice for Bright Simons and Okudzeto Ablakwa to pull down the said posts with his image, Welbeck Ampedu holds that the court will deliver justice for what he considers to be an act of defamation against him.

    He claimed not to have issues about the allegations leveled against Reverend Kusi Boateng by Okudzeto Ablakwa but holds that the use of the said photo has injured his image and integrity in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public.

    “Two days ago I received a photo from one of my mates with the question that he didn’t know me to be a singer. I replied that I’m a singer. He asked if I was aware of a flier of a Power Chapel program with me on it that Okudzeto Ablakwa has shared it. I asked what it was about he said Ablakwa claimed to be making an exposé and he had named Reverend Kusi Boateng and his spiritual sons as owners of DNS. I asked if my name was mentioned and responded in the negative.

    “I went to Okudzeto Ablakwa’s wall and I saw a flier with my photo. I didn’t take it seriously until after the morning show, some colleagues here who knew Reverend Victor as my spiritual father came to me raising issues about the whole photo. Due to the number of people who approached me, I began to see thing differently.

    “Yesterday, another colleague sent one from Bright Simons. He had made a post with the same photo Ablakwa used. Then I got another one with an arrow pointing toward me. I’m a lead producer of a morning show and I’ve done it for close to eleven years so I cannot toy with my integrity if an honorable member pushes those pictures on social media without thinking about the sensitive nature of such a picture.

    “I issued a statement and told Okudzeto Ablakwa and Bright Simons to pull down the flier with immediate effect and offer an unqualified apology. They’ve not pulled down the posts. Even if they pull it down and offer an apology, I will still sue. We will still go ahead and seek redress, “ he said on Asempa FM.

    The flier with Ampedu’s image was one of a number of photos shared by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Monday, January 16, 2023, in his damning allegations against Reverend Kusi Boateng.

    In an explosive set of allegations which he describes 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.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • ‘God save the Trade Ministry’ – Okudzeto Ablakwa reacts to Finance Minister’s caretaker appointment

    ‘God save the Trade Ministry’ – Okudzeto Ablakwa reacts to Finance Minister’s caretaker appointment

    A Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu Constituency has expressed concern about the appointment of the Finance Minister as caretaker.

    Ken Ofori-Atta and his spouse are allegedly involved in some shady deals with the National Cathedral project, according to documents that the MP alleges to have in his possession.

    “Fresh Cathedral documents in my possession reveal that Enterprise Insurance, a company Ken Ofori-Atta is intimately associated with & where his wife serves as a director was granted a sweetheart deal to insure the entire cathedral construction site,” he said.

    This, the MP believes is a cause for worry.

    Taking to his social media handle on Friday, Mr Ablakwa said with Ofori-Atta’s new appointment, only God can save the Trade Ministry.

    “God save the Trade Ministry,” he said.

    The North Tongu MP’s post comes hours after a statement from the office of the President announced that Mr Ofori-Atta will act as caretaker minister of the Ministry of Trade and Industry until a substantive replacement is made.

    The Finance Minister’s caretaker appointment follows the resignation of the Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen on Thursday.

    The man popularly called ‘Alan Cash’ has long been rumoured to be nursing the ambition to contest the flagbearership slot of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general election.

    His resignation some have claimed, is to afford him time to pursue his presidential ambition.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Ofori-Atta would have been jailed if he was a member of the NDC – Okudzeto Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is alleging that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has diverted $100 million of Ghana’s oil fund into an offshore account.

    The reason for the diversion is unknown, but Mr. Ablakwa says Ofori-Atta’s action is a violation of Article 176 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

    Article 176 states that all revenues or other monies raised or received for the purposes of, or on behalf of, the government shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

    This, according to Mr. Ablakwa, is one of the reasons the Minority wants Ofori-Atta sacked from office.

    Speaking to Nhyira FM’s Nana Jantuah on Kuro Yi Mu Nsem, the Member of Parliament said the Finance Minister would have been jailed if he was a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    “One of the grounds listed that Ofori-Atta should be removed from office is that he has diverted at least one hundred million dollars of our oil fund into an offshore account in violation of Article 176 of the 1992 constitution.

    “We do not know what he is doing with those oil funds, who are the signatories to those accounts and why he has engaged in that diversion. When you read the latest PIAC report, PIAC has indicted him. What business does Ofori-Atta have in diverting hundred million dollars?”

    Mr. Ablakwa says the Attorney-General who should be initiating the prosecution of the Finance Minister is a colleague cabinet minister, which makes it difficult to start the process.

    He believes the 1992 constitution should be amended to have an independent prosecution entity without any political affiliation.

    “Why should the Attorney General be a cabinet minister under the same government? Why can’t we have just an independent prosecution entity?

    “The only one who can initiate the prosecution of [Ken Ofori-Atta], the Attorney General, is a colleague cabinet minister and both sit in the same meeting.”

    The North Tongu MP says the Special Prosecutor would have been the best option, but the office has not lived up to expectations.

    He thinks the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor has been a disaster and it is more likely causing financial loss to the state.

    “That whole arrangement of the Special Prosecutor has been a disaster. It’s not lived up to the promise. We were all excited that we now have an independent person with no nonsense character and he will not be influenced by the politics of the day.

    “But let’s be truthful, that office I think that is even now just a matter of causing financial loss to the state.”

    Source: Myjoyonline