$12 m Norway saga: Ghana’s president describes oppositions claims as empty

President Nana Akufo-Addo has described as “empty of substance”, an allegation of cost inflation made by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee against Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in connection with Ghana’s attempt to buy a property in Norway to serve as its Chancery.

Mr Ablakwa, who is also the North Tongu MP, petitioned the president to probe the deal although the Ministry has already said it neither signed any agreement nor paid a pesewa for the property in question.

Mr Ablakwa insisted at a press conference that records existed to show that the government had entered into an agreement with the owners of the Oslo property.

Answering questions from journalists at an encounter with the media on Wednesday, 19 December 2018, Mr Akufo-Addo said: “Since we came into office, so many allegations have been thrown against transactions, against personalities of this government – a lot of the time, on the flimsiest of evidence.

“Here is an allegation being made [against] a transaction that has not even taken place, and yet a serious accusation of misappropriation, mishandling of public fund is made.”

The president added: “When you have allegations that are so empty of substance and then you say that merely because it has been made you will, therefore, want an independent inquiry, I am not going to buy that.”