Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised fresh concerns over the sale of SSNIT hotels, asserting that the process is marred by mismanagement and favoritism.
Ablakwa, in a recent social media post, disclosed that Rock City Hotel, a hotel owned by a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), declared losses in 2023, contrasting sharply with the profits reported by the Labadi Beach Hotel.
“Intercepted GRA filings reveal that the NPP’s much-hyped Rock City Hotel declared losses in 2023,” Ablakwa stated. “This is the same year Labadi Beach Hotel made profits in excess of GHS158 million.”
Ablakwa’s post comes amidst heightened scrutiny of the sale, which he alleges is not about saving struggling hotels but rather capturing profitable national assets for personal gain. He urged Ghanaians to question the motives behind the sale and highlighted the discrepancies in the financial performance of the hotels involved.
“Don’t believe the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government when they tell you this sleazy deal is about Bryan Acheampong’s Rock City saving SSNIT’s struggling hotels,” Ablakwa argued. “It’s all about capturing profitable and iconic national brands for themselves. It’s never been about the interest of Ghanaian workers and pensioners.”
The MP has been a vocal critic of the sale, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in managing public assets. He called on citizens to join in opposing the transaction, labeling it as unpatriotic and harmful to the interests of Ghanaian workers and pensioners.
“We shall stop this unpatriotic, senseless and deleterious sale!” he declared, rallying support for a demonstration scheduled for June 18. “Our June 18 DEMO is loading 🔥🔥🔥.”
Ablakwa’s statements have intensified the debate over the management of SSNIT assets, with many awaiting further developments and responses from the government and other stakeholders.
The controversy surrounding the sale of SSNIT hotels has been ongoing, with various stakeholders questioning the rationale and transparency of the process. SSNIT, responsible for managing pension funds in Ghana, has faced criticism for its handling of investments and assets, prompting calls for reforms and better governance.
North Tongu Member of Parliament, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has sharply criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration over its perceived failure to effectively combat corruption in Ghana.
Ablakwa’s remarks come amid growing concerns and public dissatisfaction with the government’s efforts to tackle corruption.
In a scathing rebuke directed at the President, Ablakwa questioned whether Akufo-Addo‘s administration will now concede defeat in the fight against corruption, given the failed efforts.
“Are you conceding defeat?” Ablakwa rhetorically asked, highlighting what he sees as a lack of meaningful action by the government to root out corruption and hold perpetrators accountable.
Ablakwa’s criticism comes in the wake of numerous corruption scandals that have tarnished the reputation of the Akufo-Addo administration, including the controversial “Galamsey Fraud” saga and allegations of corruption within various state institutions.
The issue of corruption has been a long-standing challenge in Ghana, with successive governments pledging to tackle the problem but often facing criticism for their perceived inability to make significant progress.
Despite promises of zero tolerance for corruption, many Ghanaians feel disillusioned by the persistent allegations of graft and the apparent lack of accountability for those implicated.
President Akufo-Addo’s administration has yet to respond to Ablakwa’s criticism.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed deep disappointment in the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Speaking after President Akufo-Addo delivered the address, Mr Ablakwa labeled the speech as “uninspiring” and questioned the President’s commitment to key promises made during his tenure.
Addressing the nation on February 27, 2024, Mr Ablakwa highlighted several areas of concern, including Akufo-Addo‘s perceived failure to address corruption and fulfill promises made in his inaugural address.
“Another disappointment is the President’s refusal to touch on corruption,” Ablakwa lamented. “In his first State of the Nation Address, he assured us he was going to protect the public purse; he will fight corruption head-on. Now in his eight years, he can’t even approach the issue of corruption. So what is going on? Is he conceding defeat that corruption has defeated him?”
Ablakwa also criticized the President for not addressing the issue of the National Cathedral, a flagship project of the Akufo-Addo administration. “Why didn’t he speak on it? Why is he silent on it? He promised to commission the Cathedral on March 6, 2024, but here we are. So he has disappointed Ghanaians and has disappointed even God,” Ablakwa remarked.
The MP further expressed disappointment with the President’s handling of major scandals in the country, accusing Akufo-Addo of failing to provide financial accountability, particularly in relation to the performance of the national football team, the Black Stars.
“We are where we are now because of mismanagement, because of bad leadership,” Ablakwa asserted. “I was expecting that in this time of injury time, the president will indicate that he has reflected and will now offer us a new paradigm and do things differently but clearly there is no hope and the only way forward is to kick them out.”
Drawing attention to what he perceived as contradictions in the President’s actions, Ablakwa pointed to Akufo-Addo’s failure to fulfill promises made in his inaugural address, particularly regarding tax waivers and exemptions.
“The way he started his tenure, that’s not how he is ending,” Ablakwa observed. “He gave us so much hope, presented himself as someone who can be trusted but as it is now, it is a very very disappointing outcome,” he added.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, has leveled sharp criticism against President Nana Akufo-Addo, accusing him of being a “President of contradictions.”
His criticism stems from President Akufo-Addo’s apparent reversal on his promise to address the issue of tax waivers and exemptions upon assuming office.
Addressing journalists after President Akufo-Addo delivered the 2024 State of the Nation Address on February 27, 2024, Mr Ablakwa pointed out that during President Akufo-Addo’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA), he vowed to end tax exemptions.
However, the President is now advocating for the approval of tax exemptions, contradicting his earlier stance.
“Go and read his first SONA, he said when he comes into office, he is going to address the issue of tax waivers, tax exemptions, he’s going to end it but today, he’s rather urging us to approve the tax exemptions he has presented to us,” Ablakwa remarked.
Ablakwa’s comments highlight what he perceives as a shift in the President’s position on tax policies, leading him to characterize President Akufo-Addo as a leader marked by inconsistencies.
Also, he chastised the President for failing on his promise to tackle corruption head-on as promised prior to assuming the role.
“[One] disappointment is the President’s refusal to touch on corruption. Looking at the first State of the Nation Address, he assured us he was going to protect the public purse; he will fight corruption head-on, now in his eight years, he can’t even approach the issue of corruption, he is avoiding the promise to protect the public purse. So what is going on? Is he conceding defeat that corruption has defeated him?” he said.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has hinted at the imminent release of documents pertaining to an upcoming scandal.
Ablakwa’s post on February 25, 2024, has sparked anticipation as Ghanaians await the unveiling of what could potentially be a significant exposé.
“Kindly be on the lookout for a publication of newly intercepted documents at 6 am prompt, tomorrow Monday, February 26, 2024. For God and Country. Ghana First,” Ablakwa’s post read, leaving followers and observers speculating about the nature of the revelations to come.
Ablakwa’s recent comments during an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues program have provided some insight into the focus of his upcoming disclosure. The MP raised concerns about the allocation of funds in relation to sports infrastructure, particularly in light of Ghana’s hosting of the upcoming All Africa Games.
Highlighting discrepancies in expenditure during the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, Ablakwa pointed out that while the government had budgeted $8.5 million for the event, only $3 million was reportedly spent. He underscored the absence of FIFA-standard pitches in the country despite substantial financial allocations.
“I’ll soon publish my next scandal on the upcoming All African Games,” Ablakwa emphasized during the interview, suggesting that his forthcoming revelations may shed light on further issues surrounding sports governance and expenditure.
Ablakwa’s track record of exposing alleged mismanagement and malfeasance within various sectors has garnered attention and raised expectations for his upcoming disclosure. As Ghanaians await the release of the intercepted documents, speculation mounts regarding the potential impact on the sports landscape and broader implications for accountability and transparency in governance.
The unveiling of Ablakwa’s latest revelations promises to ignite debate and scrutiny, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, particularly in the context of major sporting events.
North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has registered his displeasure over 700 unresolved cases referred to various parliamentary committees for investigation.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr Ablakwa expressed worries over what he said were delays by the Majority Caucus in determining the members of the ad-hoc committee responsible for investigating various issues, such as the halted National Cathedral Project.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, along with other Members of Parliament, have consistently voiced their frustration regarding the extended delays in submitting committee reports concerning critical national issues for deliberation during plenary sessions.
Given these delays, he urged the Speaker to take decisive steps against the leadership of such committees to ensure the swift resolution of pending cases.
“We are either taking our constitutional mandate seriously or not. The people don’t elect us to come to this House to waste time and not attend to matters urgently and to derelict on our constitutional mandate, and so I think it is time to crack the whip.”
“The last time we were at a workshop, the clerk said there were about 700 referrals that have not been covered, and it doesn’t speak well of us.”
Over the weekend, the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was graced by the presence of two prominent and revered religious leaders, fostering unity and prayers for different occasions.
The National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, offered final prayers for the late and highly respected Aveyime Chief Imam on Saturday.
The ceremony was a poignant moment as the community bid farewell to their dedicated spiritual leader, seeking solace in the prayers and blessings of the National Chief Imam. May Allah grant the departed imam Jannatul Firdaus.
Continuing the weekend of spiritual engagements, on Sunday, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie, held a special Catholic Mass in Mepe. The purpose of the mass was to pray for the victims affected by the spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams, a calamity that has disrupted lives in the region.
Archbishop Kwofie, known for his compassion and outreach, extended his support by visiting the displaced individuals in their camps. Additionally, he inspected the MP’s Safe Alternative Housing Project, which is set to be commissioned shortly, offering a glimpse of hope for those affected by the disaster.
Disclosing this in a social media post, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expressed his gratitude to the two eminent religious leaders for their kind words of encouragement and the special prayers offered. The leaders’ presence and support contribute to the constituency’s resilience during this challenging time.
Ablakwa emphasized the importance of sustaining Ghana’s beautiful and exemplary inter-religious harmony, showcasing the unity that can emerge during moments of adversity. He conveyed his gratitude to all religious organizations for their compassionate support in the face of devastation, reinforcing the belief that with God, all things are possible.
As the North Tongu Constituency navigates the aftermath of the VRA dam spillage, the spiritual interventions from both Muslim and Christian leaders serve as a symbol of solidarity and strength, uniting the community in the face of challenges. The ongoing support from religious organizations reflects the power of collective compassion and the ability to find hope in times of distress.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for a Parliamentary probe into Ghana’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) budget.
The call comes after the MP released documents suggesting that the government allocated a substantial sum of US$8,506,450 for the Black Stars’ involvement in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Per the leaked document, the Black Stars would have earned US$7 million if the team had won the AFCON.
For Mr Ablakwa, it is beyond reasoning that the government would plan to spend more that it would generate from the tournament. He is also peeved by the fact that Zambia approved a total budget of only US$2.1million for its national team.
It is in view of this that he has charged Parliament to probe the said budget and the expenditure of the players at the tournament.
Mr Ablakwa in a tweet said: “It would be interesting to know what thought processes went into a scary US$8.5million budget for a bankrupt country which has defaulted on its loans and is desperately seeking an IMF bailout.”
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has denied media reports suggesting that its Commissioner-General, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah, has fled Ghana in connection with the $100 million corruption scandal involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
As per a statement released on January 11, 2024, the GRA affirmed that Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah is currently on a six-day leave and has not fled Ghana in relation to the ongoing investigation into the SML contract conducted by KPMG.
The statement further clarified that Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah’s absence has got nothing to do with investigations into the alleged fraudulent SML contract and that the leave was approved a month ago.
It added that the commissioner-general is scheduled to resume work on Monday, January 15, 2024.
“Management of the GRA wishes to categorically state that, the Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, has not absconded as stated in the said publication.
“The Commissioner-General is currently on a scheduled six (6) day leave which had been approved a month ago. Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah will resume work on Monday, 15th January, 2024. While on leave, every engagement that is required of him or GRA in the Audit by KPMG is being diligently attended to either by himself or one of the commissioners,” part of the statement, reads.
It added that “It is a malicious, sensational, misleading and deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of the Commissioner-General, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and the GRA as a whole”.
Background:
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, alleged that the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah, and his entire nuclear family have absconded Ghana over the $100 million Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) corruption scandal.
According to him, the commissioner-general, who signed the $100 million SML contract, left the country hours before President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo called for an investigation into the matter.
The MP, who made these claims in a post shared on X on Wednesday, January 11, 2024, accused President Akufo-Addo of having no intention to get to the bottom of the SML matter because there is no way the GRA boss could have travelled out of the country without his blessings.
He added that “the Owusu-Amoahs’ first travel destination when they left Accra a week ago was São Tomé and Príncipe, and continuous tracking appears to paint a picture of a family in no hurry to return to Ghana, that is, if they will ever return.”
Ablakwa also alleged that the commissioner-general has told his close relations that he has no intention of returning to Ghana anytime soon.
He pointed out that the absence of the GRA boss means that the investigation Akufo-Addo called for, which is being conducted by KPMG, would go nowhere.
About the SML scandal:
An investigation piece by an Accra-based media house, The Fourth Estate, titled, ‘The GH¢ 3 Billion Lie’, accused the Ministry of Finance of awarding a $100 million contract to SML to monitor Upstream Petroleum Production and to Audit the value chain of Minerals and Metals Resources.
Both the GRA and SML came out to justify the agreements that bind the two entities.
SML has stated that its upstream operations have not commenced, and therefore, no revenue has been generated. The company pointed out that the $100 million per year payment allegation is entirely fictional.
President Akufo-Addo appointed KPMG to conduct an immediate audit into the transaction between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd (SML).
A contract which was entered into to enhance revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, the upstream petroleum production and minerals and metals resources value chain.
In a statement issued by the Director of Communication at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin indicated that the President also tasked KPMG to complete the assignment in two weeks and submit appropriate recommendations to him.
The president also directed the Ministry of Finance and GRA to provide KPMG with whatever assistance they will require for conduct of the audit.
He further directed the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority to suspend the performance of the contract, pending the submission of the audit report, including any payments presently envisaged under its terms.
Two persons are in the grips of the police for duping donors of the VRA-induced flood victims.
Their arrest, according to the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was facilitated by the Ministry of National Security and the National Signals Bureau.
In a tweet announcing their arrest, the MP said he received several complaints about the operations of the two suspects, Promise Ahorgah and Mawuli Kwaotse.
“A good number of Ghanaians both home and abroad have reported to me about how these two deceived them through elaborate impersonation methods and collected hundreds of thousands of Ghana Cedis which were not handed over to flood victims as the donors intended,” he said.
He, thus, commended the agencies that made the arrest possible for the prompt response to his complaint.
“I wish to commend the Ministry of National Security and the National Signals Bureau for their prompt response to my complaint by tracking and apprehending two unscrupulous individuals who corrupted my disaster fundraising flyers and duped many unsuspecting Ghanaians,” he added.
Further, he revealed that an Accra High Court presided by Her Ladyship Lydia Osei-Marfo on Friday, December 15, 2023, ordered their continuous detention.
“The duo are to reappear in court on the 9th of January, 2024,” he added.
The MP who unequivocally condemned the move by the two suspects said: “It is sheer evil for heartless characters to take advantage of the trauma and devastation of fellow Ghanaians to defraud and exploit compassionate citizens who seek to offer empathetic assistance to their compatriots in distress.”
“May I add that all those criminals out there scamming Ghanaians in my name through fake social media accounts and those promising protocol recruitments and other dubious opportunities at outrageous amounts should know that their days are numbered. We shall get them!” he said.
The MP ended with a note of caution to the general public to be extra vigilant.
Deputy Executive Director of the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), Ghana, Benjamin Boakye, has shared documents detailing the cause of Ghana’s $170 million judgment debt to the Ghana Power Generation Company.
He made the revelation on Twitter. As per the document, the primary concern revolved around the reinstatement of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The then Minister of Energy was supposed to write a memo to the president recommending the reinstatement of the EPA but did not despite several reassurances that it would be done.
On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, Member of Parliament for North Tongu,Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, released a document indicating that the government has sanctioned the disbursement of US$20 million (GH¢230.5 million) to settle a judgment debt owed to the Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC).
The Member of Parliament accused the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government of intentionally orchestrating the judgment debt for the purpose of creating, looting, and distributing the country’s resources.
“I hope the Ministers who wrongfully terminated the GPGC contract and wilfully caused financial loss to Ghana are preparing for the day of reckoning,” he said.
A court in the United Kingdom (UK) awarded a $140 million arbitral against Ghana for the termination of a power deal with GPGC, a subsidiary of international commodities company, Trafigura, in 2021.
The Government of Ghana (GoG) was ordered by the court to pay the full value of the Early Termination Payment of $134,348,661 together with the “Mobilisation, Demobilization and preservation and maintenance costs” of the value.
Not only is the GoG going to pay the $134,348,661, but the court has also ordered Ghana to pay all the interest that has accrued from it.
The court also asked the government to pay the cost of the arbitration and the legal fees of GPGC, which amounted to over $3 million.
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has reacted to the chaos that characterised the New Patriotic Party’s Super Delegates Conference which was held on August 26, 2023.
Apart from describing the scenes as distressing, he condemned them outright.
“Didn’t know the NPP’s “BREAKING THE 8” has become “BREAKING OUR BONES.” Really distressing scenes as Frankenstein monsters devour their own.
“There must be no place for “All-Die-Be-Die” violence in Ghana’s politics. Our politics should be inspiring & transformational.”
The main incident of violence in the conference was in the North East Region where a delegate of candidate Alan Kyerematen was attacked and injured by alleged supporters of another candidate.
Fresh details on how much government has invested into the new Bank of Ghana headquarters have popped up.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has published new documents relating to the now controversial new head office of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The documents relate to correspondence between the Ministry of Finance and the central bank on among others, the issue of variation of project cost.
The most recent of the four letters published – two on the part of the Ministry and two from the BoG, is dated
17th January 2023, and is written by the Central Tender Review Committee (CTRC) of the ministry.
Among others, the committee said issues it had raised in an earlier correspondence remained “unsatisfactorily addressed” by the BoG. It also advised the BoG to stick to all designs at present “to avoid huge variation costs in future procurement.”
The letter also affirmed that the revised scope of work had been pegged at US$222,760.55.
The lawmaker pointed out that the current figure was not inclusive of the cost of land for the project which he hinted was also saddled with issues.
“It is imperative to point out that the latest variation figure of US$222.79million is without the cost of the land. The cost of land and its dubious acquisition would be the focus of another episode.
“Contrary to claims by some NPP propagandists that the skyrocketing cost of the BoG head office project is due to general inflation and in particular, rising cost of building materials — the Central Tender Review Committee exposes those claims as false,” his post read in part.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has shocked Ghanaians with his sudden transition from being a critic of West Blue Ghana Limited in 2015 to now advocating for the company’s claim to a GHC187 million payment.
Back in 2015, Mr Otchere-Darko made headlines for his vocal criticism of West Blue Limited. The staunch member of the NPP was imputing criminality in the contract awarded to West Blue Company by the presidency.
West Blue had been awarded a contract by the then Mahama administration to undertake services including software implementation and also support activities to GRA and related agencies for takeover of functions of DICs on 1 September, 2015.
The government in a leaked letter also directed the Chief of Staff to “take the necessary steps to secure the Public Procurement Approval in order to engage West Blue on Single Source basis.”
This development upset Mr Otchere-Darko who vehemently opposed the awarding of the contract to West Blue.
Fast forward to 2023, and the situation has taken an unexpected turn. Gabby is now at the forefront of advocating for the company’s pursuit of a GHC 187 million payment. This payment is said to be related to services rendered by West Blue in the trade facilitation sector.
This came to light when Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa released a mindblowing piece on Facebook dubbed “The Kitchen Scandal”
In the said post, Mr. Ablakwa expressed his astonishment at how Mr Otchere-Darko allegedly managed to persuade sections of the government, including the Attorney-General’s office and individuals within the Finance Ministry, to approve the massive payment to his new client, West Blue Company Limited.
The North Tongu MP expressed concerns about the colossal liability created for the Ghanaian taxpayer, particularly in the context of the country’s struggling economy and the recent IMF bailout.
He referred to the situation as “insane” and criticised President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” for their role in facilitating this enormous financial burden.
In a response to Mr Ablakwa’s claims, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko is a Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates, on Friday, August 4, 2023, maintained that his firm was engaged in a rather legitimate duty on behalf of their client.
According to him, his firm has since April 2021 been engaged by West Blue Ghana Limited to assist the company recover an amount of GH¢187,356,969 being outstanding payments due it from the Government of the Republic of Ghana under a contract dated 04 August 2015, and executed between West Blue, on the one hand, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF), on the other hand.
“Our client’s claim is founded on clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract, which sets out without equivocation, the fees due to our client under the NSW Contract. It was a contract duly crafted and executed by the John Mahama administration, of which you were a key member.
“Clause 13.1 of the NSW Contract provides that in consideration of its services, our client shall be paid a fee equivalent to 0.35% of the final invoice CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of import consignments entering into Ghana through the seaports, airports and land borders from time to time. Going strictly by the express terms of the NSW Contract, our client calculates the arrears still left outstanding to be in the sum of GH¢187,356,969. Indeed, a demand letter providing details of the sum of GH¢187,356,969 owed, was submitted to the Ministry of Finance on 28 July 2020 by the previous lawyers of our client, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah,” he wrote in his response.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has turned his parliamentary oversight attention to Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a lawyer and cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
On August 1, 2023, the Member of Parliament posted a collection of documents as evidence to support his recent publication named “Kitchen Scandal.”
He alleges that Akufo-Addo’s close circle, particularly Gabby, is involved in a deal that has the potential to result in significant financial losses for the country.
He made public the revelation that the scandal under scrutiny amounted to GHS187,356,969.55.
The “Kitchen Scandal” according to the legislator is a narrative of betrayal, audacity, hypocrisy, leveraging of influence, deceit, avarice, cooperation, coercion, clear favoritism, and flagrant misuse of public funds.
“The Kitchen Scandal will afford us a rare insight into how President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” operates and how destructive they have been to national progress,” his introductory paragraphs to the exposé read.
According to Ablakwa, Otchere-Darko managed to get sections of government including the Attorney-General and elements within the Finance Ministry to agree to pay his new client the said amount even though there is no basis for so to be done.
“It is absolutely insane for Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” to create this ginormous GHS187.3million liability for the Ghanaian taxpayer under this downgraded bankrupt IMF-bailout economy,” the MP lamented.
Read excerpts of the MP’s post below:
The Kitchen Scandal
The Kitchen Scandal is a tale of betrayal, bravado, double standards, influence peddling, dishonesty, greed, collusion, arm-twisting, naked nepotism and blatant rape of the public purse.
The Kitchen Scandal will afford us a rare insight into how President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” operates and how destructive they have been to national progress.
This Kitchen Scandal reveals the modus-operandi and sophisticated schemes of the grand master in the “Kitchen Cabinet” — Mr. Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko, who prefers to be called Gabby Otchere-Darko.
Many people say Gabby is the “Prime Minister” of Ghana and what he wants always gets done — well, the volumes of intercepted documents in my possession appears to confirm this perception.
Gabby’s name has often come up in other multi-million dollar transactions such as PDS, Agyapa and recently Ameri when former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko accused him of unilaterally renegotiating the infamous Ameri novation agreement which led to the minister’s unceremonious exit.
Justice Dotse may likely describe this Kitchen Scandal as a well-hatched conspiracy to “Create-Loot-and-Keep,” perhaps in a Cecilia Dapaah-like fashion.
This Kitchen Scandal is valued at a stupendous GH¢187,356,969.55.
How Gabby Otchere-Darko managed to get sections of government including the Attorney-General and elements within the Finance Ministry to agree that his new client: West Blue Company Limited must be paid the staggering GHS187.3million is most legendary.
It is absolutely insane for Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” to create this ginormous GHS187.3million liability for the Ghanaian taxpayer under this downgraded bankrupt IMF-bailout economy.
Put in proper context, GHS187.3million is more than the entire 2023 budgetary allocation for the following ministries: Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (GHS76.6million); Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (GHS44.9million); Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (GHS6.4million); Ministry of Information (GHS141.4million) and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (GHS180.9million)
The monetary value of this scandal is also greater than the full 2023 approved budgets for the following institutions: Office of the Special Prosecutor (GHS129.5million); National Development Planning Commission (GHS13.2million); CHRAJ (GHS45.4million); NCCE (GHS84.4million); National Pensions Regulatory Authority (GHS98.4million) and Office of the Head of Civil Service (GHS50.2million).
Ironically, the GHS187.3million exceeds the total annual 2023 budgeted expenditure for the salaries of all lawyers and staff at the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice (GHS155.6million); all staff at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (GHS109.3million); all staff at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (GHS80.8million); all staff of the Ministry of Roads and Highways (GHS74.6million) — just to highlight a few.
Strikingly, GHS187.3million is far greater than what the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is spending on numerous flagship programmes such as: Railways Development (GHS164.5million); Water and Sanitation Initiative (GHS74.4million); National Identification Authority (GHS37.6million); MASLOC (GHS14.4million); Fish Landing Sites (GHS26.3million) and Zongo Development Fund (GHS24.4million).
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has released a mindblowing piece, detailing how President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” operates.
The piece dubbed: “The Kitchen Scandal,” according to the legislator, “is a tale of betrayal, bravado, double standards, influence peddling, dishonesty, greed, collusion, arm-twisting, naked nepotism and blatant rape of the public purse.”
The Kitchen Scandal he stressed, “will afford us a rare insight into how President Akufo-Addo’s ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ operates and how destructive they have been to national progress.”
Read the MP’s full publication below:
The Kitchen Scandal
The Kitchen Scandal is a tale of betrayal, bravado, double standards, influence peddling, dishonesty, greed, collusion, arm-twisting, naked nepotism and blatant rape of the public purse.
The Kitchen Scandal will afford us a rare insight into how President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” operates and how destructive they have been to national progress.
This Kitchen Scandal reveals the modus-operandi and sophisticated schemes of the grand master in the “Kitchen Cabinet” — Mr. Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko, who prefers to be called Gabby Otchere-Darko.
Many people say Gabby is the “Prime Minister” of Ghana and what he wants always gets done — well, the volumes of intercepted documents in my possession appears to confirm this perception.
Gabby’s name has often come up in other multi-million dollar transactions such as PDS, Agyapa and recently Ameri when former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko accused him of unilaterally renegotiating the infamous Ameri novation agreement which led to the minister’s unceremonious exit.
Justice Dotse may likely describe this Kitchen Scandal as a well-hatched conspiracy to “Create-Loot-and-Keep,” perhaps in a Cecilia Dapaah-like fashion. This Kitchen Scandal is valued at a stupendous GHS187,356,969.55.
How Gabby Otchere-Darko managed to get sections of government including the Attorney-General and elements within the Finance Ministry to agree that his new client: West Blue Company Limited must be paid the staggering GHS187.3million is most legendary.
It is absolutely insane for Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” to create this ginormous GHS187.3million liability for the Ghanaian taxpayer under this downgraded bankrupt IMF-bailout economy.
Put in proper context, GHS187.3million is more than the entire 2023 budgetary allocation for the following ministries: Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (GHS76.6million); Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (GHS44.9million); Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (GHS6.4million); Ministry of Information (GHS141.4million) and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (GHS180.9million).
The monetary value of this scandal is also greater than the full 2023 approved budgets for the following institutions: Office of the Special Prosecutor (GHS129.5million); National Development Planning Commission (GHS13.2million); CHRAJ (GHS45.4million); NCCE (GHS84.4million); National Pensions Regulatory Authority (GHS98.4million) and Office of the Head of Civil Service (GHS50.2million).
Ironically, the GHS187.3million exceeds the total annual 2023 budgeted expenditure for the salaries of all lawyers and staff at the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice (GHS155.6million); all staff at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (GHS109.3million); all staff at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (GHS80.8million); all staff of the Ministry of Roads and Highways (GHS74.6million) — just to highlight a few.
Strikingly, GHS187.3million is far greater than what the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is spending on numerous flagship programmes such as: Railways Development (GHS164.5million); Water and Sanitation Initiative (GHS74.4million); National Identification Authority (GHS37.6million); MASLOC (GHS14.4million); Fish Landing Sites (GHS26.3million) and Zongo Development Fund (GHS24.4million).
NPP’s POSITION ON THE WEST BLUE CONTRACT
In opposition, the NPP raised fire and brimstone and mounted the most fierce resistance to the National Single Window System and an Integrated Risk Management System contract awarded to West Blue Ghana Limited on 4th August, 2015.
The NPP’s Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu went to court in a spirited effort to stop the contract.
Not even a ruling by His Lordship Justice K.A. Okwabi on August 31, 2015 dismissing Afenyo-Markin’s injunction application deterred the NPP from continuing with further legal actions in a bid to scuttle the West Blue Contract. I must add that these NPP-led legal actions are still pending in court, albeit cold cases now.
The NPP continued to fight the West Blue contract in and outside the courts. On the 16th of May, 2016 — the NPP’s Director of Communications, Nana Akomea issued a statement on what they said was President Mahama’s record of corruption. First on his list was the West Blue Contract. This is what Nana Akomea wrote: “President Mahama told a blatant lie when he said in London that he does not put himself in a position to be bribed as he does not involve himself and his Office in public procurement.
As fate will have it, on 12th May, 2015, exactly a year ago to the day he granted the BBC interview, the President, through a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, personally and directly instructed the Minister of Finance “to formally engage West Blue Ghana Limited”, without any competitive tender.
This was the contract for the implementation of the National Single Window for the inspection of goods at the ports. This contract is estimated to be worth more than $300 million over the next five year. By directing his Minister of Finance to give the contract to a particular company the President, by his own logic, had put himself in a position to be offered and receive bribe.”
The NPP won the 2016 elections and could now act on their opposition to the West Blue Contract.
The NPP Government discovered that the 4th August 2015 West Blue Contract had as a condition precedent to contract effectiveness, a value-for-money audit. In August 2017, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government got Crown Agents to complete the value-for-money audit. The outcome was that the contract did not guarantee value for money. Crown Agents recommended either a cancellation or a termination. (Report attached).
On 21st September 2017, Ports and Customs World Ghana, with links in Dubai, wrote to the Ministry of Finance that it had taken over West Blue and expressed readiness to renegotiate the West Blue contract. (Letter attached).
On October 2, 2017, West Blue also wrote to the Ministry of Finance indicating that they had been taken over by Ports and Customs World. (Letter attached). The Government of Ghana wrote to Ports and Customs World on 25th January, 2018 on the basis of Crown Agent’s value-for-money audit, revising the fees under the contract downwards from 0.35% FoB to 0.28% FoB and bringing forward the termination date from December 2020 to December 2018. (Letter duly attached). Ports and Customs World/West Blue, per a letter dated January 30, 2018 accepted these reduced terms and new contract termination date. (Letter attached). On March 14, 2019, government entered into a mutual understanding with West Blue to hold the fort by delivering services on the reduced terms until government replaces them.
DOUBLE STANDARDS AND BETRAYAL
Despite the NPP’s firm public opposition to the West Blue contract and termination of same, President Akufo-Addo’s cousin and grand master of his “Kitchen Cabinet,” Gabby Otchere-Darko has strangely become the chief advocate and super strategist for West Blue.
Gabby’s law firm, Africa Legal Associates (see articles of incorporation attached) now represent West Blue. Who would have predicted this considering the political tsunami Gabby and his collaborators created for President Mahama a few years ago in the aftermath of the West Blue contract?
Curiously, Gabby has not only surreptitiously departed from the position the NPP canvassed publicly and vehemently in opposition and in government, he has managed to get the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame to strongly agree with him.
Suddenly, to Gabby who may have transmogrified from Saul to Paul — contrary to the claims they made in opposition, the West Blue contract is no longer over priced due to sole sourcing; basically, it’s no longer a ripoff.
Now Gabby actually suggests that President Mahama’s government did not pay West Blue fully and fairly — wonders they say will never end! In an unusual development, the Attorney-General has issued three pro-Gabby legal opinions on this matter.
What is even more worrying about the AG’s latest legal opinion dated 16th December, 2022 is that it failed to take into consideration inputs from the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority as both institutions had not submitted their written arguments. (Legal opinion attached) Gabby and Godfred now state emphatically that despite the fact that the value-for-money condition precedent was not met, the contract is still valid.
The duo have also questioned the post value-for-money contract downward revisions and are insisting that the colossal West Blue demands are met.
These Gabby-Godfred positions run contrary to what the Finance Ministry had earlier communicated to West Blue through former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng on January 25, 2018 which the latter accepted in writing. (See letters attached)
Interestingly, the previous lawyer for West Blue, Mr. Ace Anan Ankumah wrote to the Ministry of Finance on March 10, 2020 proffering a different opinion from Gabby and Godfred although it related to a proposed market value audit when he asserted: “As you are aware, the written agreement dated 4 August 2015 that West Blue entered into with the Government of Ghana, acting through the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority, for a National Single Window System and an Integrated Risk Management System (“Agreement”) did not come into effect as the conditions precedent for the agreement to become effective were not fulfilled. An agreement that did not become effective cannot be used as a basis for the market value audit.” (See letter attached)
Is the Attorney-General suggesting the Finance Ministry and the GRA did not seek his legal advice when they were declaring the August 4, 2015 West Blue contract ineffective? Why is Gabby and Godfred happy to impose this huge financial burden on Ghanaians when West Blue had earlier accepted in writing the “new understandings” which substantially protect the public purse? What could be their motivation? Does Godfred Dame recognize that by issuing his one-sided legal opinion without the inputs of Finance and GRA as he concedes, he has undermined the position of the state should Gabby decide to proceed to court? Is this a conspiracy to cause financial loss to Ghana?
That notwithstanding, I must point out that even though Gabby Otchere-Darko doesn’t state his name in all his letters for this frightening GHS187.3million West Blue demand, I can confirm that he is the one signing the letters as I have obtained his GRA Taxpayer Registration Form which bears the same signature. (See attached).
What is increasingly troubling is the shifting position of the Ministry of Finance to align with Gabby. Insiders say Ministry officials are terrified as the “Prime Minister’s” pressure mounts. Already, it is suspected in several quarters that the former Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Patrick Nomo was transferred because he wasn’t cooperating on this matter.
The new Chief Director and Ken Ofori-Atta staunch ally Eva Esselba Mends seems more amenable and is piling pressure on GRA to respond to Gabby’s 6-week ultimatum for payment to be effected. (See her 30th June, 2023 letter to GRA attached).
Analysts agree that Eva won’t be writing those letters to GRA if she didn’t have Ken’s approval.
Also, Ken’s cousin Gabby won’t be getting bolder and bolder with his threats and ultimatums if the family had a genuine objection. A really complex nepotistic web.
By some sheer coincidence, Gabby’s 6-week ultimatum letter for payment of the colossal GHS187.3million is dated May 3, 2023 — the same month Ghana received US$603million from the IMF.
DEMANDS
1. President Akufo-Addo must immediately instruct his Finance Minister and the GRA to ignore Gabby’s 6-week ultimatum and not to pay the GHS187.3million; 2. President Akufo-Addo must instruct his Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to withdraw his lopsided pro-Gabby legal opinion because of the obvious dangers to Ghana’s interest in any likely litigation; 3. President Akufo-Addo must caution his cousin, Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko to back off and stop issuing threats to GRA officials; 4. President Akufo-Addo should as a matter of urgency constitute an independent panel to investigate these grave matters; 5. The Finance Committee of Parliament should urgently summon all parties and initiate a full-scale parliamentary inquiry into this GHS187.3million West Blue saga.
ASSURANCES
May I assure the top public officials working with me on this latest patriotic project, and the Ghanaian people that we shall not relent until this unconscionable GHS187.3million Gabby-orchestrated demand is defeated. We are preparing to stage a mammoth “Enough of the Looting Demo” if we do not see urgent action from the President on this matter. May God give us fortitude and victory. For God and Country. Ghana First
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has claimed that Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a lawyer and cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is exerting influence on Ministry of Finance officials to release GHS 187.3 million to one of his clients.
In his recent publication titled “Kitchen Scandal,” the lawmaker has revealed extensive information about the involvement of the president’s cousin in a scandal that could potentially result in a financial loss of GHS 187,356,969.55 to the state.
Ablakwa asserts that Gabby is at the heart of the scandal, which he describes as a story involving betrayal, audacity, hypocrisy, leveraging of influence, deceit, avarice, cooperation, coercion, clear favoritism, and blatant misuse of public funds.
In his pursuit of his objectives, the North Tongu MP claimed that Gabby has purportedly orchestrated the relocation of the Chief Director at the Ministry of Finance, leaving other officials intimidated or subdued.
“Insiders say Ministry officials are terrified as the “Prime Minister’s” pressure mounts. Already, it is suspected in several quarters that the former Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Patrick Nomo was transferred because he wasn’t cooperating on this matter.
“The new Chief Director and Ken Ofori-Atta staunch ally Eva Esselba Mends seems more amenable and is piling pressure on GRA to respond to Gabby’s 6-week ultimatum for payment to be effected,” he wrote in his publication published on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
Ablakwa alleges that Otchere-Darko has successfully convinced certain parts of the government, including the Attorney-General and certain individuals within the Finance Ministry, to approve the payment of the mentioned amount to his new client, despite there being no legitimate grounds for such action.
“It is absolutely insane for Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” to create this ginormous GHS187.3million liability for the Ghanaian taxpayer under this downgraded bankrupt IMF-bailout economy,” the MP lamented.
“Behind every successful man” they say, “is a woman.” However, in the case of Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, it’s not just a woman. It’s “a beautiful woman with brains.”
Nuhela Seidu, is the wife of the astute politician who for many years has contributed immensely to the development of Ghana’s democracy.
Recently, the Member of Parliament has actively been opposing the government’s agenda of constructing a national Cathedral; mainly because he firmly believes this is not the right time for such a project, especially when the country is still saddled with economic hardships.
He has also made claims backed by evidence suggesting that the project is fraught with corruption. In his attempt to fight the alleged corruption, the legislator has made some explosive allegations against Reverend Kusi Boateng who is the Secretary to the National Cathedral Board.
In an earlier revelation about the National Cathedral, Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that a whopping GH$2.6 million was dished out to a company named JNS Talent Centre Limited. Ablakwa’s investigations into the alleged payment led to the discovery of one Kwabena Adu Gyamfi as a director of JNS Talent Centre. Having confirmed the identities of two out of three directors of the centre, Ablakwa went on an expedition to discover the identity of the third director, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi and it was revealed that Reverend Kusi Boateng was the identity behind the name.
Rev Kusi Boateng has dragged Mr Ablakwa to court a number of times in a bid to redeem his reputation which he claims is being tarnished by the North Tongu MP, however, the attempts did not yield the expected results since the cases did not go in his favor.
It has emerged that Nuhela Seidu, wife of North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudeto Ablakwa played a part in his recent court victory against Rev. Victor Kusi Biateng, an official of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees.
Her name, along with Raphael Banaagmen, was listed in the final ruling delivered by the court as counsel for the lawmaker.
Nuhela and her colleague were holding a brief for Thaddeus Sory, the substantive lawyer for the MP in his three-pronged legal battle against the clergyman.
Ablakwa won a case in which Kusi Boateng had sought the court to restrict him from further publications of his personal details.
The court, however, dismissed the case stating that the clergyman’s other name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, which he avers was an alias; was actually a separate individual hence the court ruled that he did not have locus standi to bring a case before it as the real identity of the plaintiff was not clear.
It is the second case Ablakwa has won against Kusi Boateng after a contempt charge against the lawmaker for kicking court summons was thrown out weeks prior. The final case is a defamation suit the clergyman has brought against the MP.
Who is Nuhela Seidu?
Nuhela is a lawyer by training and used to appear on television programs like Law Express.
She married Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in 2011 in what was said to be a “secret” wedding but which ended up being the talk of town.
She is also the daughter of former NDC Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Hon. M.A. Seidu.
In July 2022, she graduated from the University of California, Berkeley where she earned an LL.M. Degree & two certificates of specialisation in Business Law & Intellectual Property Law.
A member of the General Legal Council and a former President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Sam Okudzeto, has demanded the resignation or dismissal of Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, the ruler of the Dormaa Traditional Area, from their position as a High Court judge.
Okudzeto referenced the paramount chief’s call for the discontinuation of the criminal case against James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North Constituency, as the basis for his demand.
During the 10th Atta Mills Anniversary Lecture held over the weekend, the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, who also serves as a High Court judge, appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame to urgently terminate the trial against James Gyakye Quayson.
He urged the minister to file a nolle prosequi to formally discontinue the case in the interest of the public.
In response to these remarks, Sam Okudzeto expressed his condemnation of Dormaahene in an interview with Joy FM on July 3, 2023. He stated, “It is wrong, it is repugnant, it is senseless for a sitting High Court judge to stand on a public platform and make an utterance of that nature. This is my view.”
Furthermore, the former GBA president called for the High Court judge to be dismissed or to resign from their position.
“If I was sitting in that disciplinary committee of the judicial council, I would have asked him to resign or asked him to be sacked as a judge. That’s what I would have done,”myjoyonline.com quoted him to have said in the interview.
Gyakye Quayson is currently facing charges of perjury and four other charges related to his Canadian citizenship status at the time of filing his nomination forms for the 2020 parliamentary election.
Legal proceedings were initiated against Gyakye Quayson following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the Electoral Commission’s decision to allow him to run in the 2020 elections without providing proof of renouncing his Canadian citizenship as unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court instructed Parliament to remove Gyakye Quayson’s name from its records, rendering his election null and void. Additionally, his swearing-in was deemed unconstitutional.
Subsequently, a by-election was conducted, in which Gyakye Quayson emerged as the winner. According to the Electoral Commission’s announcement, he received a total of 17,245 votes, constituting 57.56% of the total votes cast.
Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was his closest contender, garnering 12,630 votes, accounting for 42.15% of the votes. Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party Ghana (LPG) secured 87 votes, representing 0.29% of the overall tally.
Member of Parliament of North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has alleged the Intervene Revenue Service (IRS) of the government of the United States (US) raised concerns about the operation of the National Cathedral of Ghana.
According to him, the tax exemption given to the National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc, the subsidiary of the National Cathedral of Ghana in the US, is likely to be cancelled because of the activities of its leaders.
In a series of tweets shared on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the MP alleged that leaders of the cathedral in the US have been engaging in irregularities which have now been noticed by the US government.
“Nobody knows how much has been raised, the banks being used, signatories to the bank accounts and how the funds raised are disbursed, particularly as the cathedral contractor, RIBADE JV has abandoned site for over a year for lack of payment.
“The US cabal who registered the “National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc” without a single clergy representation has never accounted to the Ghanaian people, neither to the Parliament of Ghana.
“As previously demonstrated, they have in an illegal conduct, not filed a Form 990 report with the IRS of the USA since 2021 which has triggered genuine concerns that per US Federal law, their tax-exempt status would be revoked any moment from now,” parts of the tweet read.
The MP said that operations of the cathedral are continuing in the US despite an order for works on it to cease for an independent audit of its accounts.
“Revered clergymen, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba would be really upset to discover that five months after their explosive, no holds barred memo to the Board of Trustees of the “National” Cathedral demanding that ‘ALL CURRENT ACTIVITIES ADVANCING THE CONSTRUCTION OF GHANA’S NATIONAL CATHEDRAL SHALL BE DEFERRED until an independent audit’.
“… the US cabal who operate as law unto themselves have blatantly defied the respected trustees and are still actively receiving cash donations,” it added.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expresed concern over the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal negotiated for the country; describing it as “painful.”
Ablakwa, in an interview on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, on Friday, May 19, 2023, described the people who negotiated the IMF deal on behalf of the people of Ghana as wicked.
He added that the IMF programme, which was approved on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, will bring more hardship on ordinary Ghanaians.
“This is going to be the most painful, the most bitter IMF programme. I asked myself who negotiated this on behalf of Ghanaians? Does the person have a heart? Does the person care about Ghanaians?
“The analysis we have shows that because of this (the IMF) bailout, there are going to be 50 new tax measures… income tax is coming to be progressive.
“There is going to be quarterly tariff adjustment. So, every quarter, electricity tariffs are going to go up, can you believe that, every quarter?” the MP asked.
Also, Ablakwa said that the deal negotiated on behalf of the people of Ghana also includes an additional debt restructuring programme.
He added that public sector employment will also be restricted for the 3 years span of the IMF programme.
Background:
The Executive Board of the IMF unanimously approved the $3 billion bailout for Ghana at a meeting Wednesday [May 17, 2023] in Washington.
$600 million out of the $3 billion loan was disbursed on the day of the approval of the bailout and $350 million would be disbursed every six months for the three-year programme.
Earlier, Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, had expressed optimism, that the swelling goodwill that Ghana was getting from the international community, including its creditors could guarantee the approval of the loan.
She added that her outfit was pushing the bilateral creditors to quickly provide the financial assurance needed for the board to approve the deal.
Prior to this, Ghana had completed all prior actions necessary to receive support for its economic recovery programme, the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has highlighted a number of reasons that accounted for the dismissal of the contempt of court suit brought against him by clergyman Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.
Ablakwa, speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on May 5, 2023, said the court threw out Kusi Boateng because of procedural and material evidence relative to service of the suit he is accused of disrespecting.
He revealed that the bailiff who met him at Metro TV in February to serve him with the papers was unknown to the courts.
The judge, he noted had also dismissed the case because of irregularities and inconsistencies in the case of the plaitiff.
“The judge was very clear that the whole arrangement of the attempt to serve me was unconstitutional, it was clearly an entrapment.
“The persons who came to this premises to serve me were not bailiffs of the court, a search was conducted at the registry of court and no court official had been sent to serve me.
“It is still a mystery who those guys are and who did the recording. The whole thing was clearly a set up,” he submitted.
Aside the irregularity and inconsistency bit he also noted that the plaintiff had breached an order of the Chief Justice that only bailiffs should serve originating processes.
Ablakwa described the judgment as “well received, erudite and sound.”
MP for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed how he fund his National Cathedral Exposé.
North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has denied reports that he is sponsored by some anti-Christ groups for his National Cathedral probes.
He said he will not even entertain such offers because Christianity is the best religion for him.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, May 6, Mr Ablakwa revealed that he uses part of his salaries as MP for his investigations into the controversial project.
The outspoken lawmaker thus urged Ghanaians to disregard any claims that he is being funded by certain groups for his works.
“I don’t have funding from any external sources. I just use my salary to do the work I do. I am just sacrificing a little of what I am paid to do.
“Sometimes I hear people suggest that maybe I am supported mh some anti-Christ groups. That is not true and I won’t even entertain that. I believe Christianity is the best of religions,” Mr Ablakwa said.
The former Deputy Education Minister has been serialising “bombshells” about the project following his visit to the USA.
In his latest epistle, he has brought forth evidence of some portions of the incorporation documents for the project’s fundraising, raising questions about its propriety.
In a Facebook post on May 4, Mr Ablakwa posted a series of documents to back up his claims that the project is fraught with criminal activity.
The MP’s evidence suggests that the National Cathedral of Ghana had registered a subsidiary in Washington under a different name and with different “governors” – the American term for trustees.
The Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member also provided some documents to claim that a deceased person’s details were used in the registration of the National Cathedral’s fundraising arm in the US.
Ablakwa alleged that a dead Hispanic’s details were used to register the American fundraising wing, which the Cathedral Secretariat described as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SP), in March 2021.
“Painstaking and unimpeachable investigations shockingly reveal that the March 2021 incorporation of the National Cathedral of Ghana and Bible Museum Foundation, Inc in Washington, D.C. was criminally executed through IDENTITY THEFT.”
Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, has praised his colleague MP, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa for exposing what he describes as a ‘holy scam” in the construction of the National Cathedral.
Speaking in a panel discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on May 3, 2023, the lawmaker stated that if the court had upheld Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng’s case, Okudzeto Ablakwa would have been in prison for daring to expose what he called a “scam done in the holy name of God.”
“Well, if the court had upheld the applicant’s case, Hon Ablakwa would have woken up in prison this morning, for daring to expose a holy scam. It is a scam that is done in the holy name of God. I think Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has to be commended by all well-meaning Ghanaians for how he stayed on this cathedral matter,” he said.
He added that Okudzeto’s exposé has brought to light all sorts of malfeasance and financial impropriety surrounding the project.
He noted that many Ghanaians are now waking up to the scam which was being carried out under the guise of building a house of God.
The Tamale North MP also criticized the government’s decision to pull down bungalows occupied by some justices of the court with their families to make way for the Cathedral. He argued that many people had expressed reservations about the project from the outset, but the size of the crime was not immediately apparent.
He expressed the hope that the project would be subject to greater scrutiny to ensure that it was not used as a cover for financial malfeasance.
“When it began, many people expressed reservations especially when the government at the time decided to pull down some slightly used bungalows that were occupied by some justices of the court with their families.
“…but people didn’t see the size of the crime that we were going to perpetuate in the name of God but fortunately, with the dedication and the focus of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, many people are beginning to wake up to the scam. You know all manners of things that are not just downright leading to losses of huge sums of money to the Ghanaian people all in the name of building a house of God,” he added.
Meanwhile, an Accra High Court has dismissed the contempt case against Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa brought by the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.
This was after the court indicated that the evidence presented by Kusi Boateng and his lawyers was fraught with inconsistencies and doubt.
The court further noted that the contempt application failed to meet the legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Background:
Reverend Kusi Boateng had filed a motion, pleading with the court to commit Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa to prison.
The opposition lawmaker, Okudzeto, had kicked a writ meant to be served on him by a court bailiff on Friday, February 3.
He had given the pretext that he was on his way to Parliament when the bailiff approached him at the forecourt of Accra-based Metro TV to be served Rev. Kusi Boateng’s writ.
Kusi Boateng’s motion sought to draw the court’s attention to a possible contempt case against the lawmaker, citing what he said was untruths when Okudzeto said he was served while on his way to parliament.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has cautioned Minister for Agric, Bryan Acheampong to tread cautiously citing his recent statements on never handing over power to the opposition after 2024 polls.
Ablakwa said his colleague MP for Abetifi is better off learning from how real mighty men have been toppled by people power.
He took a swipe at colleague NDC MPs who defied the party late last month to vote in support of the approval of Acheampong as minister. Acheampong was approved with votes from the NDC MPs along with five other appointees of president Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“We blame those treacherous MPs but Braggadocious Bryan Acheampong should learn from history,” Ablakwa said in a social media post that referenced countries where presidents were chased out or deposed by protesters.
“From Sri Lanka, Sudan, Ecuador, Tunisia, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Philippines, Algeria, Guatemala, Egypt, Mali, Bolivia, CAR, El Salvador, Chile to Iranians overthrowing the Shah; history is replete with real mighty men crushed by PEOPLE POWER,” the post added.
Bryan Acheampong booms at Kwahu
Bryan Acheampong is on record as saying the governing New Patriotic Party will do everything within its means to win the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), therefore, his party will go to the election fully prepared.
He stated that the NPP has the men to match the opposition boot for boot during the 2024 polls.
Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong stressed that “We will show NDC that we have the men if they want to do intimidate, harass us or do anything foolish during the 2024 elections…It will not happen that we will hand over power to NDC. We’ll use any means for NPP to stay in power.”
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has proposed an amendment to Standing Orders (Order 174) to allow the opposition in parliament to head the government assurance committee.
The MP wonders why the government’s guarantee that the IMF deal will be completed by the end of March 2023 fell through.
He is also demanding that the government apologise to the people and explain why the assurance failed.
To end this, he has proposed for the assurance committee of parliament to be chaired by an opposition MP to provide for strict consequences for grand governmental deception.
He wrote “What should happen when a President and his top officials assure Parliament and the entire nation on multiple occasions that Ghana will secure an IMF bailout deal by March this year?
Should the citizenry, like their government functionaries pretend that March didn’t end five days ago?
Don’t Ghanaians deserve an apology and an explanation at the very least?
Is that the superior competence the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/Ofori-Atta government proclaims?
Why did so many experts, civil society, and the opposition foresee that a March deal was ridiculously impossible, and yet President Akufo-Addo kept issuing firmer assurances including when he delivered his Message on the State of the Nation in Parliament?
Moving forward, there’s an urgent need to amend Parliament’s Standing Orders (Order 174) to expressly make an opposition MP the Chair of the Committee on Government Assurances and to provide for strict consequences for grand governmental deception. Leadership must respect the Ghanaian people.”
North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has again lamented over the country’s poor economic conditions.
His utmost concern was with the fact that Ghana is on a begging spree but has refused to live within its means.
According to the North Tongu Member of Parliament, the extravagance lifestyle President Akufo-Addo is living amid the obese government he has refused to downsize should be a cause of worry to every Ghanaian.
The lawmaker.has berated the government for the self-inflicted difficulties the government has plunged the nation into, subjecting the citizenry into excruciating hardship.
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa was speaking on the additional hands the government has employed at the Office of the President making the total number rise from 998 to 1048 with Alfred Ocansey on Ghana Tonight Thursday, March 30, 2023.
“So you wonder if really, this is the country going through the most excruciating economic meltdown in living memory.
“A country that’s telling everybody that this economy has been destroyed, self-inflicted, with over-borrowed debt to GDP, with excess over 100% so we cannot meet our obligations to you. You cannot get your coupons, you can’t get back your life investment, Finance minister has just returned from China on a begging mission. When Vice President Kamala Harris came here few days ago, you heard President Akufo-Addo begging her to talk to the Paris Club on our behalf. So you’re begging everybody and yet look at your conduct. You cannot lead by example,” he indicated.
He was surprised that the “2021 list was so high with dubious positions and we expected him to downsize by being considerate and respectful and give some dignity to us his employers” but the President chose to increase the numbers.
Below is the full text detailing the Annual report on the office of the President staffing:
Full text: Annual report on Office of the President staffing
Accra, 30th March, 2023 – Pursuant to section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), the President of the Republic has submitted to Parliament the Annual Report on the staffing position of the Office of the President for the period 1 st January to 31st December, 2022.
The report covers three key areas, namely the number of Presidential Staff employed at the Office of the President during the period, the ranks and grades of these staff, and employees of other Public Services assigned to the Office of the President.
During the reporting period, there were two (2) Ministers of State and forty-four (44) Senior Presidential Staffers at post. The other Political Appointees at the Office of the President numbered three hundred and fifteen (315). This brings the number of political appointees to three hundred and sixty-one (361).
It is important to note that out of the 361 persons who are political appointees at the Office of the President, only 163 work physically at the Jubilee House. The others work in the offices to which they have been assigned.
It is also instructive to note that, in keeping with the established practice of previous governments of the 4th Republic, the 315 other political appointees include Special Assistants, Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants to Ministers of State and Regional Ministers, employees in the Office of the Vice President, Aides and Assistants assigned to the First Lady and Second Lady, as well as employees assigned to Government agencies under the Office of the President, such as NEIP, Free SHS Secretariat, MASLOC, Special Development Initiatives Secretariat, Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat, Zongo and Inner Cities Development Secretariat, amongst others.
Moreover, in addition to the political appointees at the Office of the President, employees of Public Sector Organizations assigned to the Office were also included. These categories of staff were from different classes, including Administrative, Executive/Clerical, Records, Secretarial, Budget, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Presidential Household, and staff from the Department of Parks and Gardens, Ghana Health Service, Controller and Accountant General’s Department, Ghana Audit Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Public Works Department (Prestige), and Ghana Postal Company. The total number of these categories of staff was six hundred and eighty-seven (687). These categories of staff were appointed by their respective public institutions, and the Civil Service and have always been assigned to the Office of the President during previous governments.
The submission of this report is a clear indication of the President’s commitment to transparency and accountability. It provides a comprehensive overview of the staffing position of the Office of the President, and it is expected to inform decision making processes.
As the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) heads to its Presidential and Parliamentary primaries, quite a significant amount of youth have shown interest in taking up the mantle to lead.
Thirteen aspirants have filed their nomination to contest some big wigs in the party to bring new ways of governance in the various constituencies they seek to represent.
It is unknown the reason behind the numbers, but recent protests by the youth in Ghana against those in authority have empowered the youth to be more active in their criticism.
This maybe the reason why the youth in the party have decided contest to change the narrative and provide better lives to the constituents they seek to represent.
Here are the bold candidates in their prime who are ready to go up against big names in the party on May 13, 2023.
Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah
The 32-year-old is an entrepreneur and philanthropist born in Accra. He seeks to win the Keta Constituency seat being occupied by Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey.
Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah
Education: London Metropolitan University LLB, Business Law (2009 – 2011); Coventry University MBA, Oil & Gas Management ( (2011 – 2012) and Rushford Business School, European Professional Doctorate (EDP-EU) (2022).
He is the Chief Executive Officer of Empire Domus Group Ltd, KJM Trading LTD and serves as the Director of Dominion Int.Petroleum Ltd.
Kwame Obeng Adjinah
Mr Obeng Adjinah, another entrepreneur, plans to secure the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai seat, being occupied by New Patriotic Party’s Alfred Obeng for the NDC.
A flyer of Kwame Obeng Adjinah indicating that he will be contesting the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Constituency seat
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Land Economy from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
He also holds a Professional Executive Master in ADR from University of Virgin Islands and Pulse of Africa (GGA).
Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu
Baba Sadiq, 37, has a similar ambition as Mr Obeng Adjinah. He also wants to win the Okaikoi Central seat from Patrick Yaw Boamah of the NPP, for the party.
The founder of 3 Media Networks Limited who is a trained media, communications and sustainability specialist and entrepreneur has 17 years of working experience.
He has made a huge impact in the music industry, where his company, 3 Media Networks Limited acknowledges well-deserving artists.
Eric Edem Agbana
Deputy National Deputy Youth Organiser, Eric Edem Agbana, will also be contesting in the upcoming primaries. The 29-year-old is set to contest for the Ketu North parliamentary seat.
Eric Edem Agbana
Mr Agbana is a Fellow of the prestigious School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute, Policy Analyst and Social Entrepreneur with interest in helping Startups and Non-Profit Organisations to build sustainable business models.
He is also the NDC’s manifesto spokesperson on Youth Development. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Economic Policy Management and is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration, Leadership and Governance.
Lamtiig Abugri Apanga Esq.
The private legal practitioner, believed to be below the age of 40, seeks to contest Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaanev for the Nabdam seat.
Lamtiig Abugri Apanga Esq.
The lawyer has since 2017 provided legal services to the party. He served on the Protocol and Accreditation Committee of the NDC during the National Delegates Conference held in Accra, 2022.
Mr Apanga holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelors of Law (LLB) from the University of Ghana. Again, he holds HND Marketing from Takoradi Polytechnic (Takoradi Technical University).
Alhassan Sayibu Suhiyini
The Tamale North legislator hopes to retain his seat. The 43-year-old made his first appearance in Parliament in 2016.
Alhassan Sayibu Suhiyini
Mr Suhuyini is working on a PHD in Public Administration. He is expected to complete it in 2024.
Dela Goldheart
Amelia Amedela Amemate, popularly known as Dela Goldheart is a Ghanaian Gender activist and feminist. Dela is among female candidates who will be contesting in the upcoming primaries.
Dela Goldheart
She served notice of contesting the NDC parliamentary primaries in the Anlo Constituency of the Volta Region in a Facebook post.
Dela is a product of the University of Ghana. She was one of the aspirants for the 2012/2013 Student Representative Council (SRC) Presidential elections and she was popularly known as Ame Ame, a nickname coined from her full name.
She has embarked on various philanthropic works. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and as of the time of filing this report, was pursuing a PhD in Gender.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
42-year-old Ablakwa is also working on retaining the North Tongu seat for the third time. He won the North Tongu seat in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
North Tongu Mp, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Mr Ablawa who has been a key critic of the National Cathedral project has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Philosophy (2006), an MA in Communications and Public Relations (2017), as well as Master of Science in Defence and International Politics (MDIP) (2019).
He once served as Deputy Minister of Information and Education under the previous NDC government.
John Dumelo
39-year-old, actor turned politician, John Dumelo, has also not relented on his quest to be the next MP for the Ayawaso West Wuogon. He is set to mount a spirited comeback as some residents in the Guan District have supported him with a token of GHC 5,500 for his filing fee.
John Dumelo
Mr Dumelo obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
He had his basic education at the Christ the King School in Accra. He attended Achimota School, was part of the Drama Club and also won the Fliers Guy in Mo-TOWN prize.
He is currently a farmer and politician.
Samuel Nartey George
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, who made his first appearance in Parliament in 2016 also wants to retain his seat for the second time.
Samuel Nartey George
The 37-year-old who hails from Ahwiam, Old Ningo, has a Bsc. Degree in Agricultural Engineering (Soil & Water Engineering) (2005), Bachelor Of Law Degree (Llb) (General Law) (2015), and an Executive Masters (Dissertation) (Conflict, Peace & Security) ( 2020).
He once served at the Office of the President as a Communications Specialist.
Francisca Mawufemor Adjei
Francisca Mawufemor Adjei will slug it out with Joycelyn Tetteh; the incumbent MP for North Dayi.
Francisca Mawufemor Adjei
She has held various portfolios in the party including the Branch women organiser for Ayawaso central constituency (Freeman hostel branch), from 2004 -2012, a Branch member in the Odododiodo Constituency from 2012, among others.
She also worked with the Electoral Commission as an officer during the 2012 voter registration.
The CEO of Franca’s Kitchen and Francisca Mawufemor Adjei Foundation has a Degree and Masters in Communication from the African University College of Communications.
Yayra Vera Hayibor
Another female aspirant to look out for is Yayra Vera Hayibor who is in the race for the only orphan seat in the Volta Region; Hohoe. Yayra Vera Hayibor is a product of Mawuli school where she completed her secondary education in 2007.
She is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Theatre Arts in 2014.
She proceeded to study law at the University of Strathclyde in 2015 and graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Law and Sustainable Development. Her Master of Law thesis has been published on the challenge’s worldwide website.
Yayra is currently pursuing a PhD in Law, with focus on Labour and Immigration law at the University of Glasgow Law School and on the Work on Demand research team.
Prince Benson Mankotam (Out)
Mr Mankotam would have made it on the list but for his sudden withdrawal. In a Facebook post on February 24, 2023, he announced his decision not to pick up forms to contest.
According to him, the decision was made after considering several factors post the declaration of intent.
On January 21, 2023, Mr Mankotam announced his intention to contest for the Senya East seat.
Despite his withdrawal he noted that “the right choice is to send the elephant back to the bush.”
Meanwhile, on Friday, February 24, 2023, the NDC officially closed all nominations.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has told an Accra High Court that he was recently served court papers by a fake bailiff.
The papers in question were a restraining order and a defamation suit by Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, alias Victor Kusi Boateng, secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral.
Ablakwa’s allegations were contained in an 85-page document opposing a contempt suit Adu Gyamfi brought against the lawmaker for rejecting service of the two suits and disrespecting the court by kicking the documents.
In Ablakwa’s filings for the case, his lawyers, Sory @ Law, attached an exhibit that contained an Application for Search Report seeking information on the bailiff who served Ablakwa the papers earlier this month.
The court registry confirmed that Adu Gyamfi had indeed instituted the two applications served on Ablakwa on 1st and 3rd of February.
It gave the name of the bailiff who served the application on Ablakwa as Ellis Armah but answered “NO” to a question about whether Ellis was a bailiff of the Judicial Service.
There was no further explanation as to why a bailiff outside of the Judicial Service had been given papers to serve on the respondent.
Ablakwa’s lawyers also referred to a recent order by the Chief Justice asking that only certified bailiffs be dispatched to work on service of applications.
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has appealed to Ghanaians especially his colleague MPs to support victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake which struck on February 6, 2023.
In a statement in solidarity with the affected countries, he noted contended that “the ever-compassionate Ghanaian public” [can] contribute in their own little way by donating to the special initiative launched by the Turkish Embassy in Accra.
“Donations such as winter clothing, boots, gloves, canned foods, sanitary materials, and baby foods will be most appreciated. The point of collection of these items is at the National Mosque of Ghana, Kanda- Accra,” he added.
he further extended his sincerest condolences to families who have lost loved ones and it is my fervent prayer that the many more who are yet to be found, will come out unscathed.
“A speedy recovery to the rescued,” he added.
Read full statement below:
Right Honourable Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to deliver a statement of solidarity to the Government and People of Turkey and Syria following this week’s devastating earthquake of cataclysmic proportions.
Mr Speaker, on February 6, 2023, just before Turks and Syrians would awake to go about their daily activities, a 7.8-magnitude quake hit just after 4 a.m. local time sending tremors hundreds of miles and creating disaster zones on both sides of the Turkey-Syria border.
The world soon became witnesses to the horrendous turn of events, particularly in Turkey and the heart-wrenching images saddened the hearts of the international community. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promptly announced seven days of national mourning and declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 of the country’s provinces on Tuesday.
Mr Speaker, it has been officially reported that more than 15,000 people have sadly passed away since the beginning of this disaster and 52,929 people have been injured. According to the UN, 300,000 people have been displaced as a result of the disaster and time is running out for many others who remain stranded under the rubble awaiting an overwhelmed rescue crew.
The WHO has predicted that the death toll could increase eightfold, with a little under 8,000 people having been rescued.
The quake has resulted in fire outbreaks across the country of Turkey including the southern Iskenderun Port which saw hundreds of containers set ablaze. Mr Speaker, it is no exaggeration to posit that the result of the earthquake has caused havoc of apocalyptic dimensions.
Mr Speaker, it is imperative to emphasize the long-standing bilateral relations that Ghana and Turkey have enjoyed over the years. Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Ghana were established in 1958 following the independence of Ghana. However, it was not until February 1st 2010, that the first Turkish embassy was established in Ghana since 1981.
It marked the beginning of a true friendship between the two nations. Indeed, under President Atta Mills, conscious efforts were made to strengthen ties between the two nations.
The Presidential visits paid by the former President of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gül on March 2011 to Ghana and by the former President John Dramani Mahama on January 2013 to Turkey, paved the way for further enhancement and strengthening of the relations.
Subsequently, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Ghana in 2016 created a new milestone in bilateral relations as it witnessed the establishment of a business forum between Turkish and Ghanaian businesses.
Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Özlem Ergün Ulueren is a great friend of this House having paid a number of courtesy calls on Mr Speaker and interacted with the Foreign Affairs Committee.
She has hosted a number of MPs in her office including myself and visited a good number of constituencies. Mr Speaker, it must not be lost on us, the enormous developmental impact our partnership with Turkey has generated.
Notable among these projects is the construction of Terminal 3 at the Kotoka International Airport, the construction of the National Mosque which is the second largest in West Africa, the execution of the $165 million water project for the Birim Central and Effutu municipalities and the Denkyembour District and the Completion of the Akyem Oda Water project which is a great relief to the people.
The build quality of the Turkish people is impeccable and that must explain why they boast of having the second-largest number of construction firms after China.
Mr Speaker, it is gratifying to note that the world appears to be rallying timeously behind Turkey and Syria in these difficult times. Even though there appear to be challenges with the rescue effort.
Australia is deploying 72 search and rescue specialists to Turkey following the devastating earthquake, according to the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
It will also deploy personnel from the foreign affairs department, police force as well as ambulance and health workers to affected areas.
The European Union has also announced a donor conference to raise funds for Turkey and Syria as the two countries continue to grapple with the devastation.
In addition, the United States military has transported two civilian urban search and rescue teams to Turkey to assist in earthquake relief efforts, according to the US Defense Department, as well as transporting first responders to and from the most impacted areas.
The WHO has resolved to send medical teams and three flights of medical supplies, including surgical trauma kits, to Turkey and Syria. Similarly, the UAE has pledged 100 million dollars in relief towards the rescue efforts.
Indeed it is comforting to note that as the days go by, several other countries and World organizations are responding swiftly to the call to send help to the doorsteps of those gravely affected.
Mr Speaker, the devastation of these happenings in Turkey has been felt directly by many other countries. For instance, three US citizens were killed in an earthquake in southeastern Turkey. Many citizens of the world who reside in Turkey have either been displaced or affected.
Mr Speaker, this sadly brings me to the subject of one of our beloved and cherished sons of the land, Christian Atsu Twasam. A Ghanaian extraordinarily talented professional footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor and the Ghana national team. Conflicting accounts about his safety and whereabouts have left all Ghanaians and the global football community in a terrible state of anxiety and anguish.
Atsu’s exceptional work ethic, patriotism and rare talent have caused him to excel in many leagues and his time in Turkey counts as no exception. Indeed he scored a winning goal for his team only last Sunday.
He is touted by many of his colleagues as an asset. Many Ghanaians attribute their love for him outside of football to the outstanding role he has played in philanthropy.
I, therefore, appeal to the Government of Ghana and the Ministry of Foreign affairs to deepen their efforts in ensuring the safety of all Ghanaians even as we keep hopes alive in anticipation of their full recovery.
Mr Speaker, may I also urgently appeal to all colleagues and the ever-compassionate Ghanaian public to contribute in their own little way to help victims of this catastrophe by donating to the special initiative launched by the Turkish Embassy in Accra.
Donations such as winter clothing, boots, gloves, canned foods, sanitary materials, and baby foods will be most appreciated. The point of collection of these items is at the National Mosque of Ghana, Kanda- Accra.
In conclusion Mr Speaker, I extend my sincerest condolences to families who have lost loved ones and it is my fervent prayer that the many more who are yet to be found, will come out unscathed. A speedy recovery to the rescued.
This house and the good people we represent sympathize with the people of Turkey and Syria. They remain in our thoughts and prayer. We are confident that healing and brighter prospects lie ahead.
Secretary to the Board of the National Cathedral, Rev. Kusi Boateng, has been called out by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for attempting to have him imprisoned.
Mr Ablakwa said he is not a coward and thus cannot be intimidated by “forces of tyranny” from exercising his parliamentary oversight duties.
According to him, if these persons are so mindful of finding victims for their intimidation ploys, then they should look elsewhere and not his backyard.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, February 9, the former deputy Education Minister and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee said he is prepared to be a “political prisoner of conscience.”
“A country where parliamentarians carrying out their constitutional oversight mandate become victims of state-sponsored harassment, strange court injunctions and judicial threats of imprisonment even as double identity charlatans are protected and pampered is definitely a nation in the dark abyss.
“Let the cowardly forces of tyranny be told that I am not one to be frightened with imprisonment.
“I am ever ready to be a political prisoner of conscience than to be coerced and compromised into a behind-the-scenes deal with the corrosive enemies of the Republic,” he posted.
Mr Ablakwa thus thanked the ranking and file of the National Democratic Congress for the enormous support given to him to do his parliamentary work.
“I wish to express heartfelt appreciation and profound gratitude for the overwhelming solidarity and words of encouragement I have received since the series of cathedral exposés in the pursuit of my constitutional mandate of oversight, and in the face of the current fascist machinations to use the judiciary and other state institutions to silence and intimidate me.
“I am eternally indebted to the good people of Ghana, my dearest family, former President H.E. John Mahama, the NDC executive led by Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the NDC Council of Elders chaired by Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, my beloved North Tongu constituents, the rank and file of NDC comrades across the country, Civil Society Organisations, activists, genuine pastors, the media, my dedicated staff, gallant and dependable colleagues of the NDC Caucus in Parliament led by Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson.”
Already, the Minority in Parliament has warned that they will strongly oppose any attempts by “undemocratic elements” to use the Judiciary to prevent them from carrying out their mandate.
Any such attempt will be opposed fiercely, they said, insisting their duties enshrined in the Constitution will be performed to the letter.
In a press release issued by the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Wednesday, February 8, the NDC MPs said this will be non-negotiable.
Background
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.
MP for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made more revelations about Government’s payments to Sir David Adjaye.
He says Government paid additional US$5.8million to lead consultant of the National Cathedral of Ghana project, Sir David Adjaye, in 2021.
The amount according to North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was extra payment for what he called design variations to the existing architectural design Adjaye had originally done.
Adjaye Associates & Design Team were directly paid an amount of GH¢113.040.54.67 million according to records presented to Parliament in 2022 by the secretariat of the National Cathedral.
On the specific works that led to the over US$5.8 million payment, Ablakwa wrote in a Facebook post dated February 7, 2023:
“Newly secured cathedral documents reveal that just for a minor design variation of including a 300+ seater restaurant and expansion of an already paid for Bible museum, government paid David Adjaye an additional outrageous and extortionate US$5.8million (specifically US$5,817,769.65; amounting to a staggering GHS33,539,442.03 in 2021).”
It is not known whether this figure was contained in the original expenditure document presented to Parliament or it is from a different source.
Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta told Parliament in Decembebr 2022 that a total amount of GHC339 million had been spent on the project from public funds – specifically the Contingency Fund.
Read Ablakwa’s full post on the alleged payment:
How David Adjaye billed Ghana a colossal US$5.8million (GHS33.5million in 2021) for a Minor Cathedral Design Variation
The heartbreaking images of Ghana’s pensioners and vulnerable senior citizens picketing at the Finance Ministry when they should be enjoying a well-deserved restful and happy retirement with their grandchildren is undoubtedly the result of reckless mismanagement and cruel dissipation of the nation’s resources by this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/Ofori-Atta inept government.
Newly secured cathedral documents reveal that just for a minor design variation of including a 300+ seater restaurant and expansion of an already paid for Bible museum, government paid David Adjaye an additional outrageous and extortionate US$5.8million (specifically US$5,817,769.65; amounting to a staggering GHS33,539,442.03 in 2021).
This latest information confirms that so far, the Ghanaian taxpayer has coughed up an exorbitant US$25,444,192.42 (GHS152.6million) solely for Adjaye’s cathedral architectural designs.
Put in context, this GHS152.6million is more than the entire 2023 compensation (salaries and wages) budgetary allocation for the Ministries of Food and Agriculture; Trade and Industry; Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; Energy; Information; Roads and Highways; Works and Housing; Communications and Digitalisation; Youth and Sports; Railways Development, and a host of others.
GHS152.6million can also complete more than 80% of the abandoned Saglemi affordable housing units. It could equally have completed the targeted 200 E-Block community senior high schools project.
Ghana’s current economic tribulations are undoubtedly self-inflicted—definitely created by this heartless NPP administration.
Our prayers and solidarity are with all pensioners—government ought to listen and immediately exempt them from its dreadful DDEP!
Like most Ghanaians, I can’t wait for Parliament’s parliamentary probe into this scandal-plagued “National” Cathedral project.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has described the issue surrounding the change in the leadership of the minority caucus as a needless distraction.
According to him, the focus of the National Democratic Congress and its MPs should be on helping find solutions to the numerous challenges the people of Ghana are facing.
Ablakwa said that the issue surrounding the change in the minority leadership has overshadowed important national issues including the debt exchange programme and corruption allegations in the government’s COVID-19 expenditure, as well as the construction of the National Cathedral of Ghana.
“If you look at the current situation in our country, we are in a very turbulent chaotic time. We are really in crisis and we see what is happening with the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, where so many people have been forced to take haircuts… we have an avalanche of corruption reports, look at the Auditor Generals’ Report on COVID-19, look at our own exposé.
“The Ghanaian people expect us to be focused on those matters, to offer leadership, to be their voice because that is why they sent us to Parliament.
“So, the point I am making is that, this is a needless distraction,” the MP said in a JoyNews interview monitored by GhanaWeb, on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Ablakwa, therefore, called on his colleague National Democratic Congress MPs to finalize the matter on their leadership and move on to national issues.
“So, some of us have been urging colleagues that we have to quickly close ranks, deal with this matter expeditiously and move on to the national issues,” he added.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Some MPs of the party have petitioned its National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East), and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), who are calling for the suspension, argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
The MP for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called the controversy surrounding the leadership transition in the minority caucus a pointless diversion.
According to him, the focus of the National Democratic Congress and its MPs should be on helping find solutions to the numerous challenges the people of Ghana are facing.
Ablakwa said that the issue surrounding the change in the minority leadership has overshadowed important national issues including the debt exchange programme and corruption allegations in the government’s COVID-19 expenditure, as well as the construction of the National Cathedral of Ghana.
“If you look at the current situation in our country, we are in a very turbulent chaotic time. We are really in crisis and we see what is happening with the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, where so many people have been forced to take haircuts… we have an avalanche of corruption reports, look at the Auditor Generals’ Report on COVID-19, look at our own exposé.
“The Ghanaian people expect us to be focused on those matters, to offer leadership, to be their voice because that is why they sent us to Parliament.
“So, the point I am making is that, this is a needless distraction,” the MP said in a JoyNews interview monitored by GhanaWeb, on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Ablakwa, therefore, called on his colleague National Democratic Congress MPs to finalize the matter on their leadership and move on to national issues.
“So, some of us have been urging colleagues that we have to quickly close ranks, deal with this matter expeditiously and move on to the national issues,” he added.
The change in the leadership of the minority caucus of Parliament has led to some confusion in the NDC, with some members of the party, including some Members of Parliament, saying that the party’s parliamentarians should have been consulted before the move.
The NDC leadership has appointed the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as the minority leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic. He replaced the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
According to the NDC, Kofi Armah Buah, MP for Ellembele, will take over as the Deputy Minority Leader.
While Kwame Governs Agbodza, MP for Adaklu, will replace Asawase MP Muntaka Mohammed as the Chief Whip.
Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Whip.
Some MPs of the party have petitioned its National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend the appointment of the new leadership of the party in Parliament.
The NDC MPs, including Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka (MP for Asawase), Dominic Ayine (MP for Bolgatanga East), and Cletus Avoka (MP for Zebilla), who are calling for the suspension, argue that the appointment was not made by any of the party’s decision-making structures but was imposed by just a few people.
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has detailed how the Presidency spent over GHC191m in nine months (i.e January to September 2022).
Giving a breakdown of the figure in a tweet, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that fuel bills paid at the presidency within the 9-month period under review cost a colossal GHS51.1million. (51,109,137.86).
“Empirical analysis conducted reveals that government failed abysmally in its promise to slash fuel expenditure by 50%,” he said in the tweet made on January 31, 2023.
He further disclosed that President Akufo-Addo’s regional tours last year cost “the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a staggering GHC16.9million (16,906,272.45).”
Additionally, he mentioned that “an unbelievable GHS15million (15,000,000.00)” was spent by the Presidency on tyres and batteries for official vehicles.
Also, payment for new vehicles cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer GHC 6.5million (6,500,000.00) .” This, he stressed was distressing considering Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s announcement of a ban on imported official vehicles in March last year.
Other costs include; Payment for Networking and ICT Equipment which cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer an impressive GHS6.6million (6,600,000.00); An additional expenditure on Office Equipment/Furniture and Fittings cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a fantastic GHS7.07million (7,070,315.28); and Telecommunications and Internet Services from January to September , which cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a shocking GHS20million (20,000,000.00).”
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.
North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has made a passionate request to the government to end the protocol system in the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
Mr Ablakwa’s call comes in reaction to The Fourth Estate documentary, “School placement for Sale”, which chronicled how some individuals sold the school placement slot to some category ‘A’ schools for as much as GHC20,000.
In an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, the legislator said, the only sure way to deal with the problem is to abolish the protocol system.
According to him, there is no need for such a system, adding that placement into Senior High Schools should be merit-based.
“There is absolutely no reason that this should happen. When we [NDC] were at the Ministry, we announced no protocol and Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman was very passionate about it.
“When you create protocol systems that is where it leads to. We must abolish protocol and let everything be based on merit. Remove the window for human interface. We say we are doing a computerised system, so let it be computerised.
But explaining the need for such a system on GTV’s Breakfast show on Monday, the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum said for the past years, there has been a special protocol in the school selection placement system for key stakeholders like chiefs, churches and old students who contribute to the development of the various secondary schools and in some cases, founders of the schools.
He stressed, however, that the Ministry will not accept any thing that would undermine the protocol aspect of the school placement system.
“The Church- Presbyterian Church, how do I tell the Moderator that the School that you founded and continue to fund and provide resources, and you want five or 10 students to go there I won’t allow you?
“So it is a system that we came to inherit. Unfortunately, people are using dubious means to get access to something that has been set aside for these key supporters of education in the country, it has to be stopped and that is why I embrace the documentary,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry says measures have been put in place to prevent fraud in the school placement system as it warns parents and guardians against aiding the fraudsters.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu has disputed the National Cathedral Secretariat’s explanation that they took a loan from secretary to the Board of Trustees, Reverend Kusi Boateng.
The GH¢2.6 million loaned amount has been contested by the MP who insists it was an irregular payment for no work done.
Ablakwa revealed on the January 27, 2023 edition of the Good Morning Ghana programme that it turns out that JNS Talent Center, a company Kusi Member is connected to, had received monies from COVID-19 funds, out of which they allegedly loaned a portion to the cathedral.
“This claim that he did us a favour and he gave the Cathedral Secretariat a loan …even though the Cathedral bank statement I have secured, at the time they said they were in distress and needed GH¢2.6 million desperately, they had GHC6 million sitting in their account.
“The bank statement of the National Cathedral at ADB, they had six million sitting in that account, so that story doesn’t add up,” he stressed.
He continued: “We now know that they (Kusi Boateng and JNS Talent Center) did their country no favour. It was our own money GH¢3.5 million COVID cash which he received for supplying tissue paper.”
He also tasked the Auditor-General to review their current report on COVID funds and capture the said transaction because there were doubts as to whether the tissue paper supplies were even honoured.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reacted to calls for a deferment and an audit of the National Cathedral of Ghana project.
The call was made by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba, with a core reason for their call being the many controversies that have dogged the project in recent times.
Ablakwa described the call by the duo, who are members of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, as a sign of “exemplary Christ-like leadership, wisdom & integrity worthy of high praise.”
His post on Twitter read: “Profound commendations to Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Rev. Eastwood Anaba for their principled and patriotic position on the scandal-dominated National Cathedral project. Exemplary Christ-like leadership, wisdom & integrity worthy of high praise. Ghana first.”
Accra-based Joy FM published a memo dated January 23, sent to the Board of Trustees, calling essentially for a halt and an independent audit of the project’s expenditures.
“That in the spirit and cause of transparency and accountability to the Ghanaian people, the current Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral shall appoint an independent, nationally recognised accounting firm to audit all public funds contributed to and spent by the National Cathedral.
“Auditors will also audit the overall cost of the project. This appointment of an auditor shall take place before the deferment of activities of the Board of Trustees,” excerpts of the memo said.
The National Cathedral project has been in the news recently for not too good reasons, as a result of a myriad of allegations levelled by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, against the Board and its secretary, Rev. Kusi Boateng.
Ablakwa has exposed instances of public funds being put into the project, which government confirms is to the tune of GHC339 million cedis. He has recently questioned some payments made by the cathedral, but the secretariat insists all transactions were above board.
Member of Parliament (MP) and Former Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says those seeking to contest Former President John Mahama in the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential primaries should rather rally behind him because “2024 elections is for Mahama” and nobody else.
“For me, I will appeal to all those lacing their boots that, this is not going to be the last primaries in Ghana so they can look at that. This 2024 election is for President John Mahama.” The lawmaker said.
According to him, there has been a lot of destruction in the country caused by the current administration led by Akufo-Addo which needs to be redeemed, hence, there is no time to waste in trying to find a leader.
To him, such a contest will only waste their time and may switch the focus of the party.
“Looking at the contest we are yet to face and how they (NPP) have destroyed the country; Ghanaians are saying we should go back for NDC, people even say if you meet John Mahama tell him we are sorry”, Ablakwa said this on TV XYZ in an interview.
Ablakwa also revealed that he honestly, agrees with the NDC’s General Secretary that, “we should be able to sanction some of these aspirants who waste our time”.
“Everybody is calling for John Mahama, so you just have to come on board. Let’s unite. This is not the time as the only hope for the country when they turn to you then you are engaged in needless internal squabbles”, he stressed.
The Management of the University of Ghana has cautioned continuing students residing in all-male Commonwealth Hall to desist from invading the premises.
In a statement, the management said it had received reports that some Old Vandals are inciting students to “pack all their belongings and report at the entrance of Commonwealth Hall” on the basis of an order of injunction issued by the High Court.”
It has, however, asked students to refrain from the act noting that the High Court injunction did not direct or authorise students to converge at the Hall.
“The University also wishes to clarify that it has not implemented a so-called residential policy ‘dated 26 October 26, 2022’ as contained in the order of injunction issued by the High Court.
“The University wishes to place on record that, by January 6, 2023, when the order of injunction was secured, almost 86% of students who were legally resident in Commonwealth Hall in the 2021/22 academic year, including four of the eight students who secured the order of injunction against the University, had formally accepted allocation to other Halls of residence in the University,” parts of the statement read.
“…I am very encouraged by your words on the National Cathedral. I am very determined that come what may, I have two more years, whatever the case, the National Cathedral will be at a very advanced stage before I leave office. I think it is important that we do it.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he is carrying out his parliamentary duties by exposing the underhand dealing in the National cathedral project.
According to him, his role as an MP makes it mandatory for him to check the excesses of the Executive and therefore has no intention of getting the clergy to support him.
“This is not a popularity contest. I am not seeking to get church leaders on my side. That is not what this is about, I am carrying out my mandate, my parliamentary duties. I am required and all of us in Parliament are required to constitutionally carry out oversight duties to make sure there are checks and balances,” he said.
Mr. Okudzeto’s comments were in response to questions posed by the host of Top Story, Evans Mensah on whether he acknowledges that those representing Christians [the Clergy] were publicly not on his side in regard to halting the construction of the national cathedral.
Evans Mensah’s questions were informed by comments from the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Anglican Church, Rev Dr. Cyril Smith, earlier today (Tuesday) that the building of the national cathedral will happen no matter the objection by naysayers.
However, Mr. Ablakwa explained that as far as he was concerned it was not a popularity contest but it was his duty to expose wrongdoing.
“There is a reason why it’s said all over in literature that ‘Parliament, we are the custodians of the purse’. We must ensure that public funds are being utilised properly and judiciously. It’s not a popularity contest,” he said.
“If this project was so popular and the Christian community had been rallied, they shouldn’t be struggling to raise funds.”
In the past few days, Mr. Ablakwa has been one of the most outspoken parliamentarians on the unconstitutional processes the government had taken when it comes to the national cathedral project.
In commemoration of her birthday, Ghanaian MP Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has taken to social media to celebrate the birthday of his beautiful wife.
In a heartfelt post, Ablakwa shared a photo of his wife, expressing his love and admiration for her.
“Happy birthday my bae for life.” Ablakwa wrote in the caption. “The best decision I made 13 years ago and will make a zillion times. Thanks for being a blessing to our kids and I. ????????.”
The post quickly went viral on social media, with many expressing their admiration for the couple and wishing the birthday girl a happy day.
Ablakwa’s followers flooded the comments section with well wishes and heartwarming messages, praising the MP for his love and devotion to his wife.
Overall, the post serves as a reminder of the importance of love and appreciation in relationships.
It’s always nice to see public figures expressing their love and affection for their significant others.
We hope that the couple continues to have a happy and healthy relationship.
A member of the special committee that looked into the Minority‘s motion of censure against the Finance Minister has refuted claims that his party utilized sitting expenses.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the claims are untrue and should be dismissed.
According to him, they served the nation for free.
Ablakwa’s tweet
The North Tongu MP in a social media post on Thursday said the desire to save the nation was their aim and not monetary considerations.
“It’s been a patriotic duty. Ignore baseless claims that our side took sitting allowances; we served pro bono,” he tweeted.
The Ranking on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee however said his side is ready to debate the report of the committee and vote on same in plenary today.
“Parliament is expected later today to consider the report of the Ken Ofori-Atta Vote of Censure Committee. We anticipate a full-blown debate and the long-awaited vote.”
Already, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak has expressed confidence that the Finance Minister will be voted out of office after the vote on the censure motion.
He said the Minority caucus is determined to vote Ken Ofori-Atta out of office.
“I can assure you some people [Members of Parliament] are on their way back, others are in the US. They are on their way back, others are in their constituencies. Everybody is on his way back.
“I can assure you that we are keeping our cards close to our chest and we believe that tomorrow by the Grace of God, by the time we are done with the secret balloting, Finance Minister will be out,” he said.
To ensure the aspiration to the caucus is achieved, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu issued a three-line whip for Ken Ofori-Atta’s dismissal.
A three-line whip is an instruction given to Members of Parliament by their leader telling them they must vote in a particular way.
Member of the 8-member ad hoc committee hearing the motion of censure against Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, took exception when the minister sought to raise an objection to some words used in the grounds for the motion.
According to Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the minister for finance had no moral authority to raise issues about the language used in the grounds supporting the motion against him.
“The minister himself on the 12th of March 2013, is on record at the William Ofori Atta Institute for Integrity Lectures to have actually called for a coup, nothing can be stronger than that. So I don’t think we will be taking lectures on language from the minister,” the MP stated during the committee’s sitting on Friday, November 18, 2022.
The censure motion against the minister brought by the minority group is on seven grounds which among other things levels allegations of conflict of interest, mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy, and breaching of the country’s fiscal management laws.
However, appearing before the committee to answer to the grounds of the motion, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta raised concerns about the language used by the proponents of the censure motion.
But according to Mr Ablakwa the finance minister by his concern “appears to want to lecture us on language.”
Referencing a statement by the finance minister in 2013, Mr Ablakwa said Ken Ofori-Atta by saying “the country’s silence on the election petition could trigger a coup” could not raise such an objection.
A member of the ad hoc committee, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC) and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) will appear before the committee of Parliament probing allegations in a censure motion against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Thursday, November 17, 2022.
In a Facebook post, the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, shared “the Ken Ofori-Atta Vote of Censure Parliamentary Committee resumes public hearings tomorrow at 11am. We expect PIAC and GNPC to appear before us.”
The ad hoc committee has commenced a public hearing on the motion of censure against Ken Ofori-Atta.
At the first sitting the Minority, represented by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu and, Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, cited PIAC reports from 2019 to 2022 and the Petroleum Management Act as some of the basis for their allegations against the Ofori-Atta.
It is based on this the PIAC and GNPC are expected to appear before the house to respond to this allegation.
