Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has defended his support for Ghana’s Foreign Minister who is targeting Commonwealth Secretary General job.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has been nominated by President Akufo-Addo to contest for the international appointment.
According to the North Tongu MP, although he had earlier triggered an investigation into then emerging Oslo scandal, the Minister’s swift response won his admiration.
“We’ve had a longstanding tradition of rallying behind the flag,” he said on the sidelines of an event organises by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kumasi on February 3.
“When it comes to these international appointments, it is not about partisanship, we are all Ghanaians, it is about Ghana, and we have to be patriotic that’s what I have done,” he explained.
“But that does not mean the reservation we had in the past were not founded or were not justified. As you do know on the matter of the Oslo chancery scandal, fortunately after that expose` they backed-out of the deal Ghana saved money, about $12 million dollars and to me that’s what matters.”
It is recalled that Mr Ablakwa had claimed that the cost of the 100-year-old 6-bedroom house in Oslo that was being considered to be used as Ghana’s chancery was inflated. Ablakwa alleged that the property was bought by a certain woman for US$2.9 million in 2014 and sold to an unknown buyer for US$3.5 million in August 2017, and so it was surprising that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a presentation to the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament said it was purchasing the same building for US$12.2 million in 2018.
Mr Ablakwa earlier congratulated Madam Ayorkor Botchwey on her nomination as Ghana’s candidate for the post. He said she could count on the support of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for support as she seeks to win the position for Ghana.
“I congratulate Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on her expression of interest and nomination as Ghana’s candidate for Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
“Consistent with our longstanding national tradition of rallying behind Ghanaian candidates for international assignments regardless of partisan affiliation — my colleagues and I on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee wish her success in October’s election. This is about our dearest Ghana, and our collective glory. Go make us proud, Hon. Minister,” Mr Ablakwa who is also the Minority spokesperson on Foreign Affairs wrote on his X platform on Friday.
Evans Nkum
