The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said he had never purchased any state property.
He was responding to the Deputy Publicity Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah Bonsu, who petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the opposition lawmaker.
Owusu Bempah argues that lawmakers engaged in profit-making ventures without seeking parliamentary approval, thereby violating provisions of the 1992 Constitution.
He argues that this action violates the very Constitution that lawmakers are sworn to uphold.
In the petition filed with CHRAJ on Friday, June 7, 2024, Owusu Bempah alleges that the North Tongu MP is “a director, sole shareholder and beneficial owner of Volta Clennam Farms and Industries Ltd which was incorporated on September 2, 2021.”
Senator Owusu Bempah asks CHRAJ to investigate Ablakwa for engaging in unauthorised commercial ventures
If Mr Ablakwa is indeed the owner of the industry in question, he stands to gain or remunerate in breach of section 98(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
In the petition, the NPP Deputy Public Relations Director said the refusal of the ranking member of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee to seek permission from the Speaker to begin work was a “deliberate attempt to evade scrutiny and accountability.”
But in a post on his X platform, Ablakwa said: “Media reports suggest that some foolish mercenaries have dragged me to CHRAJ over a farm project in my constituency which is yet to commence operations.”
“Let me put it on record that I have never purchased any state assets. Nothing will stop us from blocking the sale of SSNIT Hotel to Mr Brian Acheapong! And we remain unwavering in our resolve to propose a Member of Parliament Bill to ban the sale of state assets to politicians and politically exposed persons.”