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Tag: Okudzeto Ablakwa

  • Death of 90-year-old woman: Kafaga residents have a long way to go Okudzeto Ablakwa

    The murder of Dente Akua a few days ago by some residents of Kafaga in the Savannah Region has sparked public outrage as many notable personalities condemn the barbaric act.

    The Member of Parliament for North Tongu District, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also condemned the killing saying the act indicates that the Kafaga community has a long way to go when it comes to civilization.

    “…any society which still believes in witchcraft and blames the aged for their woes, so much so that they will heartlessly lynch a 90-year-old woman has a very long way to go…”, part of Hon. Okudzeto’s statement reads.

    According to Hon. Okudzeto, he does not see any reasons why only the aged and poor such as Dente Akua in society are regarded as witches while the equally aged but rich ones are not regarded as such.

    The MP continued that if Akua Dente had been that powerful to spiritually hinder development in the Kafaga community, “why she was not able to make herself rich?” he asked.

    However, the MP raised some serious point of concern by pointing to some religious teachings and cultural norms as things that keep people glued to archaic and barbaric practices such as believe in witchcraft as seen in the case of Dente Akua.

    He further called for justice to be served and the perpetrators apprehended and severely dealt with accordance to the laws of the country.

    Source: ghanavangurd.com

  • IGP must ‘arrest’ Akufo-Addo – Okudzeto Ablakwa

    Former deputy Information and Education minister in the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama Administration and member of parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah has said that Akufo Addo should be investigated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and if possible put behind bars because he has said lots of lies to Ghanaians.

    The MP made this statement on Monday, June 16th, 2020 during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) weekly press briefing on the topic: ‘NPP 2016 manifesto into perspective.’ The NDC is currently informing Ghanaians on the unfufilled promises made by the Akufo Addo led government.

    In a presentation, the MP said:

    “You see, Akufo Addo must be called by the IGP for some questioning and answers just like how National security called Bernard Mornah. He has lied, he continues to lie and he might be lying soon too.”

    “He promised one student, one chocolate, Accra will be the cleanest city in Africa, providing bank account for every Ghanaian in this country? Has all these seen the light of the day? Too much lies from an old man. That’s uncalled for.”

    The NDC also claimed that the NPP are reducing their promises because they have realized it is not achievable, but the NDC have all records of the promises.

    Okudjeto continued: “Their total promises made is 631. Total promises the Vice president Dr. Bawumia alone made was 388. Smuggled promises by the Vice president was 8, deceptive promises were 8. In all they have been able to achieve only 235. We score them 14%,” the MP added.

    The MP satarically said that these were what the NPP government had rather achieved.

    1. Bringing back Teacher licensure exams

    2. PDS scandal

    3.The death of Ahmed Suale, and Investigative Journalist.

    4. Double track in Free senior high schools

    5. Galamsey

    6. The loss of the Takoradi Girls

    7. Ghana dropping on the press freedom index

    8. Australia Visa scandal Among others

    Okudzeto ended by saying that it was important the good people of Ghana, realized they were been taken back to hell and that their only rescue was to bring back former president and now presidential candidate of the NDC , John Dramani Mahama.

    Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, later in the day in Meet the Press at the ministry of information also rubbished what the NDC had said and also presented facts on the achievement of government indicating more details of government’s achievements in the last three and half years could be seen or captured on delivery.gov.gh.

    As elections approaches, we hope readers won’t put their votes in automatic mode. Vote wisely and for a government that you think will make this country better for all of us, not politicians who will educate their children abroad and scream they can give you the best, na lie!

     

  • Okudzeto Ablakwa pays salaries to all private schools in North Tongue constituency

    The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has paid the salaries of 570 teaching and non-teaching staff of 45 private schools in his constituency. He said after an interaction with the heads of the schools, he found out that unlike the public school teachers, the private school ones had not been paid since March.

    Ablakwa indicated that it was a pity for the teachers to be left out in this pandemic times, therefore, he took the initiative to help.

    Many people have praised him for his initiative.

    Source: Yen.com.gh

  • Akufo-Addo chose politics over science Ablakwa bemoans

    Former Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says it obvious that the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo chose politics over science.

    The President on Sunday April 19, 2020 announced the lifting of the ban which comes into effect on Monday April 20, 2020 at about 1am revoking the partial lockdown in the Greater Accra Region, Greater Kumasi and Tema.

     

    This decision was reached after government put in place measures such as having one testing facility in each region, enhanced contact tracing, the production of PPEs locally, the date available to government and the severe effect of the partial lockdown on economic activities.

    Akufo-Addo

    He mentioned that lifting the restriction does not mean the country is letting her guard down adding that all other measures announced earlier still holds.

    But reacting to the move by the government, Okudzeto Ablakwah who is a leading member of the National Democratic Congress says the President chose his parochial interest over the national interest.

    He said “Many experts are emphatic that our President chose politics over science. May God save us”.

    Ghana has now recorded 1,042 positive cases after an enhanced contact tracing.

     

    Source: thenewsgod

  • Ablakwa makes 10 substitute proposals to government instead of depleting heritage fund

    North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made a 10-point suggestion to government on how to generate revenue amid the fight against the new coronavirus.

    These points, the legislator suggested in a post, if followed, would give the government the financial muscle instead of the administration falling on the heritage fund.

    Among others, Mr. Ablakwa suggested a 50 per cent pay cut for all political officeholders.

    He also suggested a 60 per cent cut in size of government, that is, Ministers and presidential staffers.

    If these and others are done, the outspoken MP says “the heritage fund will most likely be left intact for our children.”

    “May the generation that will come after us not be disappointed that we bequeathed them with virtually nothing because we refused to sacrifice and consider other patriotic options in this watershed period of history,” he added.

    Read his post below

    After listening to the Hon. Finance Minister in Parliament earlier today justify the need to use the heritage fund in the fight against COVID-19, I shall humbly submit that before the Akufo-Addo administration depletes the heritage fund reserved for the next generation, we first consider the following 10 suggestions:

    1) 50% pay cut for all political office holders;

    2) Reduce by 60% the number of Ministers and Presidential Staffers;

    3) Close and realign many of the Ministries which would become redundant after the ministerial downsizing;

    4) Lay off all Personal/Special Assistants to Ministers and Presidential Staffers;

    5) Suspend all Ex-Gratia payments;

    6) Interim closure of at least 50% of our diplomatic missions abroad and recall staff to Accra;

    7) Cancel contracts of all consultants in the public sector;

    8) Put a freeze on all prestige projects which can wait including the national cathedral, marine drive project, new passport office and the regional coordinating council offices for the six new regions;

    9) Suspend the phenomenon of free fuel for the category of public servants who benefit;

    10) Repeal all tax waivers granted in recent years for non-essential services and commodities with the view to abolishing the practice moving forward.

    If we muster the political will to do these, the heritage fund will most likely be left intact for our children.

    May the generation that will come after us not be disappointed that we bequeathed them with virtually nothing because we refused to sacrifice and consider other patriotic options in this watershed period of history.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Ablakwa, Ofosu Kwakye, Jinapor and Mogtari Bawa allegedly took scholarships from GNPC Foundation

    A picture sighted by Ghanatribune.com shows that several NDC MPs and ministers accessed scholarships from the GNPC Foundation during the period of 2012 to 2016.

    The picture; a snapshot of the list of beneficiaries, lists names like John Abdulai Jinapor, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, Joyce Mogtari Bawa who all took scholarships from the foundation to fund their study abroad.

    This leak follows the release of the GETFund audit report from the period of 2012 to 2017 which showed some high ranking government officials in the current administration accessed the scholarship scheme primarily meant for the needy but brilliant.

    Hon. Adwoa Sarfo, Dr. Prince Hamid Armah and Education Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh were all captured as beneficiaries of the GETFund scholarship.

    This particular leak sighted covers only the 2012-2013 period and more could be revealed in the rest of the list.

    See the picture below

    Source: ghanatribune.com

  • Update Ghanaians on status of ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees or meet me in court – Ablakwa to National Security Minister

    Update Ghanaians on status of ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees or meet me in court – Ablakwa to National Security Minister

    Minority spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has made a relentless call on government to update Ghanaians on the status of the ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees, Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby were brought to Ghana in 2016, for a period of two years.

    In an open letter addressed to the Minister in charge of National Security, dated 24th January 2019, the North Tongu Member of Parliament has threatened to use legal means to compel government to comply with the Securities and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996 (Act526).

    He explained that with regards to an issue of this nature which amasses National Interest, it is but prudent for government to “provide an update to the Ghanaian people as Good Governance principles of transparency and accountability will demand”.

    Read: Where are the GITMO 2? Ablakwa asks government

    In January 2016, Ghana under the governance of the erstwhile NDC government, a controversial agreement was signed with the United States of America for the hosting of two former Guantanamo Bay detainees which effectively ended on January 6, 2018.

    The move was criticized by many observers including the then opposition New Patriotic Party, who described the two as a security threat despite assurances by the US government.

    The Supreme Court subsequently declared the constitutionality of the agreement as null and void under the NPP government and outrightly ordered government to send the agreement to parliament for ratification within three months or have the two detainees sent back to the United States.

    Below is the full copy of the letter;

    An Open Letter to the Honourable Minister Responsible for National Security

    Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah,
    Minister for National Security,
    Republic of Ghana.
    24th January, 2019.

    Dear Mr. Kan-Dapaah,

    REQUEST FOR UPDATE ON THE TWO EX-DETAINEES OF GUANTANAMO BAY AND CONTINUOUS BREACH OF THE SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES ACT, 1996 (ACT 526)

    Kindly consider my warm compliments duly paid.

    Today, the 24th of January, 2019 marks exactly one year since you joined your colleagues: the Honourable Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Interior and Defence, ostensibly to brief Parliament on the Government of Ghana’s position relating to the status of the two ex-detainees of Guantanamo Bay, Mahmud Umar Muhammed Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salid Al-Dhuby, following an expiration on 6th January, 2018, of the two year bi-lateral cooperation agreement between the Government of Ghana led by former President John Mahama and the Government of the United States of America led by former President Barack Obama.

    Read: No show at Gitmo 2 ruling

    Honourable Minister, as you will recall, your colleague Ministers and your good self made submissions to Parliament on that day to the effect that Government’s decision on the matter in issue is inconclusive. The Official Report of Parliamentary Debates on Wednesday 24th January, 2018 captures your remarks in this regard in column 85 as follows – “Mr. Speaker, I would want to urge Hon Members of the august House to consider the fact that this is a very important and delicate matter, can we take away the politics and unite to find an effective solution to it?”

    In the same vein, the Foreign Minister told the House as captured in column 59 – “Mr. Speaker, accordingly, government is constrained to explore any other options at this time and will await an in depth examination of the matter by the appropriate agencies.”

    Subsequently, a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Charles Owiredu and the then Information Minister, Dr. Mustapha Hamid, are both on record to have told the media on the 25th and the 29th of January, 2018 respectively that the Akufo-Addo Administration is in talks with other countries to have the ex-detainees relocated from Ghana.

    Read: Gitmo 2 raising family in Ghana Robert Jackson

    Respectfully, it is my considered view that after a full year of patiently waiting on Government, it is imperative that in this matter which is of enormous national interest, you provide an update to the Ghanaian people as Good Governance principles of transparency and accountability will demand.

    It is my humble expectation that you will now provide the update requested with dispatch.

    Honourable Minister, I should also bring to your attention your continuous breach of Section 17 (2) of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996 (Act 526) which stipulates – “The Minister assigned responsibility under subsection (1) of this section shall in respect of each year submit a report to Parliament on the Intelligence Agencies.”

    Sir, you have not complied with this provision since assuming the position of National Security Minister and thereby undermining Parliament’s Constitutional mandate of oversight.

    As you are aware, I have consistently drawn your attention and brought to the awareness of Parliament through several statements on the floor this violation of the law. I have over the period consequently proceeded to file questions in Parliament seeking to urge you to provide answers to the House on your blatant violation of Act 526 without compunction especially under a President who consistently touts his rule of law credentials.

    Having had all my Parliamentary efforts to get you to comply with the Securities and Intelligence Agencies Act, 1996 (Act526) ignored rather contemptuously, I hereby serve notice that if the situation remains the same 20 days after the 29th of January, 2019, resumption of Parliament, I shall proceed to our most esteemed courts to compel you to honour your obligations under Act 526.

    I have come to this decision seeing that I have virtually exhausted all parliamentary processes. Besides, the current worsening insecurity situation which has attracted unprecedented domestic and international concern in the aftermath of the assassination of undercover journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, numerous cases of apparent contract killings, the circumstances of Nana Appiah Mensah’s escape from the jurisdiction and the kidnapping of the Takoradi ladies – all of these call for an urgent and unwavering commitment to our constitutional and legal obligations which as you know better than many of us are designed to guarantee our collective security.

    Yours Sincerely,
    Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
    MP, North Tongu
    Ranking Member, Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com