Opposition urges govt to respect Ghanaians in Oslo deal

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must be candid with Ghanaians on the agreement regarding the purchase of a property in Oslo, Norway for a Chancery,

President Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday described as “empty of substance”, an allegation of cost inflation made by Mr Ablakwa, who is also the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, against Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in connection with Ghana’s attempt to buy the property.

Mr Ablakwa 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.

The lawmaker 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.”

However, speaking in an interview on AccraFM, the following day, Mr Ablakwa said: “Your own minister brought the documents on the Oslo deal to parliament to meet with the Foreign Affairs Committee on the 6th of December, nobody put a gun to their heads.

“Can you describe all these documents as just mere allegations?”

He added: “The president should not think Ghanaians are not discerning, he should not think Ghanaians don’t see what is going on. He should respect Ghanaians.”