Minister of Agriculture Bryan Acheampong has cautioned North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over allegations that Acheampong’s company, Rock City, was improperly benefiting from the sale of state-owned hotels.
During an exchange on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on May 21, 2024, Ablakwa argued for the validity of his claims regarding the SSNIT-Rock City hotel acquisition controversy.
Ablakwa maintained that Acheampong’s role as owner of Rock City suggested a potential conflict of interest. He referenced a 2012 case where he and Edward Omane Boamah challenged the acquisition of a government bungalow by the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, a former information minister.
Although they lost the case, Ablakwa pointed out that the Supreme Court commended their initiative to bring the matter forward.
Acheampong countered Ablakwa’s argument, asserting that the MP’s actions were damaging his reputation with incorrect information.
“I agree with you, except to say that even though the Supreme Court commended the action that you had taken, you lost the case at the Supreme Court, you always leave that out in your conclusion.
“What you had succeeded in doing is that you had tarnished Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey’s image. Throughout the process, you spoke on the matter that tarnished his image and even now, you are speaking about it…
“You failed to add that you lost the case in the Supreme Court and you tarnished the man’s image, you went on and on and on and destroyed the man and in the end the law backed him,” Acheampong added.
He stressed that as a colleague MP, Ablakwa could have reached out instead: “This is what I am trying to tell you. Sometimes you need to consult, and get the facts and you would not destroy people.
“It is not easy trying to repair an image that you have destroyed with facts that are not true. That is why I asked you that if you had spoken with me, you wouldn’t have gone this far to the extent that you want to damage my reputation and that of Rock City,” he added.