North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has responded to a petition filed against him by Ernest Owusu-Bempah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The petition requests the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the MP for allegedly violating a provision in the 1992 Constitution by engaging in a profitable venture without parliamentary approval.
Owusu-Bempah claims that Ablakwa’s actions contradict the constitution, which the MP swore to uphold.
According to the petition dated Friday, June 7, 2024, Ernest Owusu-Bempah alleged that the North Tongu MP is the “director, sole shareholder, and beneficial owner of Volta Klenam Farms and Industries LTD, incorporated on 2nd September 2021.”
Ablakwa responded via an X post dated June 12, 2024.
The MP clarified that the project in question is a constituency project that has not yet commenced.
“Media reports suggest that a certain doltish mercenary has dragged me to CHRAJ over a constituency farm project that is yet to commence operations,” his post read in part.
“For the record, I have never purchased a state asset. Nothing will stop us from preventing the sale of our SSNIT hotels to Bryan Acheampong!
“And our resolve to initiate a Private Member’s Bill to ban the sale of state assets to politicians and politically exposed persons remains unwavering,” the post added.
Responding via a post on X on June 12, 2024, Ablakwa clarified that the contentious project is a constituency initiative that has not yet begun.
This is not the first time such an accusation has been leveled against the North Tongu MP. Last year, he dismissed a similar allegation of occupying an office for profit contrary to law.
Media reports suggest that a certain doltish mercenary has dragged me to CHRAJ over a constituency farm project that is yet to commence operations.
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) June 12, 2024
For the record, I have never purchased a state asset.
Nothing will stop us from preventing the sale of our SSNIT hotels to Bryan…