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Are You Not Ashamed Of Renaming What Others Have Built? – Ablakwa Jabs Akufo-Addo

The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has taken a swipe at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his suggestion to rename the University of Ghana after one of the ‘Big Six’, J. B. Danquah.

Speaking in an interview on GHOne TV on Monday, August 16, 2023, the MP said that it is unfortunate that the president is content with unnecessarily renaming facilities built by other presidents.

He added that President Akufo-Addo would go down in history as the only president who added nothing to Ghana’s university infrastructure, which he should be worried about.

“… we have had enough of President Akufo-Addo just renaming. He should try and build something. Look, in this 4th Republic, he's going down in history as the only president who cannot lay claim to the public university that he has built. Isn't he worried about that?

“President Rawlings won a hunger prize, and dedicated all of it to the establishment of UDS. President Kufour elevated the Tarkwa campus to a full-fleshed university... Professor Mills said that look, it is not right that we have some regions in this country without public universities. Let's give every region that doesn't have a public university, one. And the University of Energy and Natural Resources was born; the University of Health and Allied Sciences was born.

“President Mahama, University of Environmental and Sustainable Development, I was with him when he secured the funding and cut the sword for what is now called the Somanya University. So, President Akufo-Addo where is yours? You are not ashamed that all you do is go about renaming other people's universities,” the MP said.

Background:

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo suggested that the University of Ghana might one day be named after one of the ‘Big Six’ Joseph Boakye Danquah (JB Danquah).

In his address at an event to mark the 75th Anniversary of the University of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo highlighted how JB Danquah's commitment to ensuring Ghana had its own university led to the founding of the University of Ghana.

He noted that his visionary work extended to challenging the British recommendation for a single university in West Africa, which was intended for Nigeria. Instead, he rallied Ghanaians to support the establishment of their own university.

President Akufo-Addo further remarked that the legacy of Joseph Boakye Danquah might even warrant consideration for naming the University of Ghana after him, given the historical significance of his contributions.

He mentioned, "Indeed, in many other jurisdictions where there is less heat in their politics and more attachment to the fact of historical record, it would not have been out of place to have this university named after him. Who knows, one day it may well happen."



Source: ghanaweb.com

Two Major Investigations Led By Okudzeto Ablakwa That Have Saved Ghana Millions

As a basic term of reference for his job as a Member of Parliament, they may not include investigating big cases of financial misappropriations, or those believed to be linked to corruption; at least not unilaterally.

But Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu, has earned for himself a national admiration for being someone who has established as an efficient investigating skill, keeping the government of the day on their toes.

For the greater part of 2022 and 2023, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP has been on the heels of the government, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, ensuring that they are as accountable to the citizenry as possible.

Luxurious private jet scandals of Akufo-Addo:

Known as the ‘Akufo-Addo luxurious private jet scandals,’ Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa started publishing details of what were the private jet travels of President Nana Akufo-Addo to other parts of the world.

The serial posts by the MP usually detailed the supposed costs of each of the travels of the president, on those hired private jets, including the names of the jets and for how long he travelled on them.

For instance, in a Monday, April 4, 2022, report put together by GhanaWeb, the North Tongu MP alleged that the total cost of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's international trips with the use of a private jet cost the Ghanaian taxpayer GH¢28.5million.

"It is imperative to note that so far, the Ghanaian taxpayer must cough up an astronomical US$465,000 in luxury rental charges. At [the] current exchange, that is a scary GH¢3,505,515.49.

"This will mean that since May last year, the Ghanaian taxpayer has spent at least GH¢28.5million on President Akufo-Addo’s ostentatious travels," he said.

In another report on Friday, June 24, 2022, the MP again shared details on how the president had used a private jet for two trips, to Belgium and Rwanda, costing the Ghanaian taxpayer €480,000, equivalent to GH¢4.1 million Ghana cedis.

He had also earlier posted on his social media handle that the president had switched from his preferred Luxemburg-based flier to a German-based operator.

"Probably thinking he will escape our unimpeachable surveillance if he switched companies, President Akufo-Addo on this occassion decided to abandon his favourite LX-DIO operated by Global Jet Luxembourg and opted for German-based private jet operator — K5-Aviation.

"As usual, President Akufo-Addo ordered their top-of-the-range and most expensive aircraft in their collection — the Airbus ACJ319. It is registered D-Alex," his post read in part.

In terms of the cost of those trips to Belgium and Rwanda, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said that the taxpayer was paying €20,000 per hour for the service. The total flight time of some 21 hours, he added, came up to €480,000.

"This luxury monster is costing the Ghanaian taxpayer €20,000 an hour.

"For President Akufo-Addo’s current trip to Belgium and Rwanda beginning Sunday the 19th of June, 2022 to attend the 15th Edition of the European Development Days Forum in Brussels, Belgium, and the 26th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations in Kigali, Rwanda; we can confirm a conservative bill of €480,000.00.

"The 480,000 Euros which is derived from 21 hours of total flight time plus other industry charges works out to some 4.1million Ghana Cedis at the current exchange rate," his post stressed.

Overwhelming outrage of Ghanaians forces Akufo-Addo to fly commercial - Okudzeto Ablakwa

A report by GhanaWeb on Friday, May 6, 2022, showed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had decided to use a commercial flight for one of his travels, following mounting public pressure on him.

In a post on his social media handles, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP expressed his happiness over the fact that President Akufo-Addo decided to go with a commercial flight for his trip to the United States of America.

Giving credit to what he described as the “overwhelming outrage of the Ghanaian people,” he said the taxpayer has been spared millions ($442,00 in expenses from the trip.

“I can confirm that President Akufo-Addo appears to have listened to good counsel from an overwhelming number of outraged Ghanaians and so flew commercial aboard United Airlines on his current trip to the United States.

“At generous conservative estimates, the Ghanaian taxpayer has been spared some US$442,000.00 which translates to savings of 3.3million Ghana Cedis,” he wrote.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also indicated his joy at the revelation that on this trip, the president did not go via a commercial plane and then joined another private jet to his final destination like he allegedly did in previous instances.

“Further tracking and our usually unimpeachable surveillance also reveals that he hasn’t done a “meet me there” on this particular travel as he has completely avoided his favourite ultra-luxury toys which he seems addicted to in recent years.

“Considering the President’s profligate and obstinate track record, we should probably consider his latest conduct as a Damascus experience, especially as he was on his way to speak at the Museum of the Bible, where he declared himself a Christian in politics,” he added.

The GH¢187 million ‘Kitchen Scandal’:

The North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has also saved Ghana the payment of GH¢187 million in judgement debts through his publication on a transaction between the government and a private company, Blue Skye, which he describes as the 'kitchen scandal'.

In a social media publication, Ablakwa alleged that Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was seeking to enforce payment of GH¢187.3 million judgment debt to his client, West Blue, even though the current government has varied the contract.

He said that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government did a value-for-money audit on the contract in question and conclude that West Blue rather owes the government of Ghana and not the other way round.

"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," the MP’s introductory paragraphs in the exposé read.

Ablakwa also alleged that the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, has, so far, issued three legal opinions in favour of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.

The advice is in support of claims being made by Gabby's law firm, Africa Legal Associates (ALA) as it seeks to exact an amount of GH¢187m from the government for West Blue, a company previously contracted by the John Dramani Mahama government for port services.

He cited how Gabby who had in 2015 sternly opposed the West Blue deal, had years on become lawyer for the company and was seeking damages for the company in respect of a contract that the current government varied after coming into office.

He accused Dame of issuing these opinions irregularly stating that the December 16, 2022, advice, in particular, was without recourse to "inputs from the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority as both institutions had not submitted their written arguments."

The MP in an interview on GHOne TV on Monday, August 5, 2023, disclosed that the process to pay the over GH¢187 million judgment death has halted due to his publication.

“… the GH¢187.3 million that I have just protected by exposing the 'Kitchen scandal’. I mean when I check with my sources in the system, government has now backed off … the GRA is no more been given pressure to pay the money.

“And the GRA folks are so grateful for this exposé … that is GH¢187.3 million that can now be used for example, to pay road contractors who are owed, school feeding suppliers who owed, all these abandoned projects all over the place.

Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, in conjunction with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign which is geared towards ensuring that parliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, organ donation, and organ transplantation in the country.



Source: ghanaweb.com

Asanteman, Sikadwa Are Behind Alan - Mampontenghene Reiterates

The chief of Mamponteng, Nana Asaasi Ayeboafo has reiterated Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene's position that Asanteman and Sikadwa (Golden Stool) are in full support of Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen's candidature for the NPP flagbearership.

He said Alan Kyerematen is our (Asanteman's) own and since Otumfuo has declared the support of Sikadwa, there is no way we would not support him.

Nana Ayeboafo who received the former Trade Minister and his campaign team at his Palace as part of his bid to meet with delegates in the Kwabre East constituency, stressed and that since the whole Asanteman and the Golden Stool supports he, Kyerematen, he would standby by the Otumfuo to rally support for him.

The Mampontenghene, advised the flagbearer hopeful to tell delegates and Ghanaians what he will do to restore the ailing economy to its glory days with opportunities for the youth to utilise their potential.

The chief also advised delegates to elect a visionary leader with the track record of growing the economy and not a visionless one who will bribe their way to power.

Source: Peacefmonline.com

Alan Abr33 - Adugyamahene Exhorts NPP Delegates.

The Chief of Adugyama, Nana Boakye Yiadom Kotoko has asked delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to look at the sacrifices and hardwork of Alan Kyerematen to the party and country and endorse him as the presidential candidate for the 2024 elections..

Welcoming the flag-bearer aspirant and his entourage to his Palace at Adugyama in the Ahafo Ano South East constituency, Nana Kotoko promised to beckon the spirits of the land to grant Mr Kyerematen goodwill and victory in the NPP November primaries.

The Chief also promised to use his good influences to support Mr Kyerematen in his bid to become flag-bearer.

"I have known Mr Kyerematen for many years and i can say he is deserving of the position he is seeking for because he has really toiled for the party", Nana Kotoko stated.

The Chief asked the NPP to look to the character and mannerisms of the aspirant and give him the mantle to lead in 2024.

He noted that the flag-bearer aspirant has since the time he got to know him closely demonstrated good conduct in office!as well as in his private life.

The Chief said Alan has as well, demonstrated competence and focus as Minister and was fitting to lead.

"Since knowing Mr Kyerematen for many years now he has shown competence by providing innovative solutions to the challenges and it is no wonder he is the most famous face in NPP now", the Chief posited.

Responding to the Chief, Mr Kyerematen thanked him and his elders for granting him and his team a warm welcome.

He also thanked the Chief for deciding to pray and support him in his bid to become flag-bearer of the NPP.

Mr Kyerematen promised the Chief to continue to engage the NPP delegates so that out of his message they would endorse him this time to lead the party.

"Nana and Nananom i am grateful for the warm reception accorded me and my team and just as you have noted i have given my all to the NPP and would continue to do so even as i seek to lead it as flagbearer in the upcoming elections", He stressed.

Source: Peacefmonline.com