Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the latest colossal of GHS187.3 million scheme by Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” shall not succeed.
According to him Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko’s long-awaited response to the GHS187.3million “Kitchen Scandal” deliberately fails to address the fundamental issue captured in his exposé, which he described as “betrayal, bravado, double standards, influence peddling, dishonesty, greed, collusion, arm-twisting, naked nepotism and blatant rape of the public purse”.
He revealed that a few years ago, Gabby and his NPP collaborators accused President Mahama of wrongly awarding a bloated contract to West Blue. He explained that the NPP so much believed in its position that the party “raised hell” and even proceeded to court in an attempt to stop the contract.
However, Mr Ablakwa stated that as it stands now, Mr Otchere-Darko claims are in sharp contrast to “their earlier stance and infamous blistering attack that President Mahama didn’t pay West Blue enough” and therefore Ghana owes his latest client GHS187.3 million plus interest. To this end, he questioned what has changed and resulted in the “U-turn of the century”.
“This latest colossal GHS187.3million scheme [minus so-called interest] by Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” shall not succeed. The Ghanaian people, and the patriotic team of whistleblowers I am working with shall rise and protect what is left of the already battered public purse…”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Describing the outcome as strange, Mr Ablakwa noted that Mr Otchere-Darko is relying on the same 4th August 2015 contract which didn’t come into effect because a value-for-money condition precedent was not satisfied, based upon which the Akufo-Addo administration disengaged with West Blue by a 25th January 2018 letter signed by Deputy Finance Minister, Kwaku Kwarteng.
Meanwhile, he emphasized that the value-for-money audit submitted to the NPP administration reveals that West Blue rather owes Ghana and not vice versa.
Following this, the North Tongu legislator commended the Ghana Revenue Authority for standing firm in the face of Mr Otchere-Darko’s “incessant threats” and insisting that Ghana doesn’t owe West Blue.
“I trust Parliament’s Finance Committee to do a great job in protecting the national interest following my formal discussions with its leadership…”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Ablakwa laments suffering of Ghanaians
Moreover, Mr Ablakwa revealed that from PDS, Agyapa and Ameri deals, Ghanaians have suffered enough in the hands of this “vampire unaccountable Kitchen Cabinet”. This, he indicated, cannot be allowed to continue, especially considering the plight of Ghanaians.
“Gabriel Asare Otchere-Darko can step out of the shadows and proceed to court if he really believes in and is proud of his mysterious GHS187.3 million U-turn. In the meantime, shall we all help Gabby relocate his conscience and his memory.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
It will be recalled that Mr Ablakwa threatened a demonstration in a bid to force government and President Akufo-Addo to address some concerns bordering on West Blue saga involving Gabby Otchere-Darko in his latest piece titled, ‘Kitchen Scandal’.
In his piece, Mr Ablakwa noted that Mr Otchere-Darko’s name has often come up in other multi-million-dollar transactions such as PDS, Agyapa and recently Ameri when former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko accused him of unilaterally renegotiating the infamous Ameri novation agreement which led to the minister’s unceremonious exit.
Among other things, he highlighted that many people are of the opinion that “Gabby is the Prime Minister of Ghana and what he wants always gets done”. This, he indicated, is confirmed by the volumes of intercepted documents in his possession.
The North Tongu legislator indicated that despite the NPP’s firm public opposition to the West Blue contract and termination of same, President Akufo-Addo’s cousin and grand master of his “Kitchen Cabinet,” Gabby Otchere-Darko, has “strangely become the chief advocate and super strategist for West Blue”.
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