The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Akudzeto Ablakwa, has chided President Akufo-Addo for comments made during his recent visit to the victims of the Akosombo dam spillage at Mepe in the Volta Region.
In the President’s address to the people of Mepe, he said that his visit was a requirement of the constitution which positions him as the father of the country, and so he had no political motivation for visiting victims of the spillage.
Mr. Ablakwa stated that the Akosombo-induced flood victims are still waiting on the President to fulfill his promise to provide temporary shelters and alternate livelihood for the people, adding that the President’s visit to the people should not have been motivated solely by electoral considerations.
He called upon the President to put national interests ahead of cheap politicking and offer assistance to all citizens who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances, more so when the phenomenon they suffer is no fault of theirs.
“As a Member of Parliament executing this mandate, you know I did not get 100%. It is not possible. I do not know of any politician who has gotten 100%, but carrying out all of these interventions, whether it is a scholarship provided, whether it is rent for 167 teachers, whether it is the renovation, whether it is the school bus or school fees. We are not asking anybody for party cards. We do not care who votes for us; that is what it should be.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
He stressed that although some efforts have been made through the support of the First Sky Group and individual sponsors, there remains a lot more work to be done to resettle affected victims of the Akosombo spillage. He emphasized that over 2,500 victims, including residents in Agbetipo, Bator DA, Adidome, and Fojoku, are yet to be resettled five months after their lives and livelihoods were destroyed by the Akosombo-induced flood.
Bawumia Cannot Be Trusted To Remove Taxes
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu in speaking to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s lecture held on 7th February 2024 at the University of Professional Studies, described the Vice President’s claim to remove certain taxes when elected as President as deceitful and purposefully intended to deceive Ghanaians into giving the New Patriotic Party (NPP) another term to govern the country.
He stressed that Dr. Bawumia had been head of the Economic Management Team (EMT) that has been imposing harsh taxes on Ghanaians for the past eight years and doubted the ability of the Vice President to suddenly make a turn on tax policies he has been championing.
“Dr. Bawumia is shying away from the hardships facing the country as a result of his mismanagement and bad advice to the President on economic issues. If the recommendation of the President is anything to go by, then Dr Bawumia is directly responsible for the economic mess the country is in.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
When asked a question about the state of Ghana football currently, the North Tongu MP expressed his dissatisfaction with the current administration of football in the country.
He alleged that the Ghana Football Association has been in the habit of spending more than necessary and yet there is nothing to show for it.
Mr. Ablakwa also expressed his surprise at the sudden decision of the President to reshuffle his ministers a few months before the General elections. He added that the damage has already been done so the last-minute changes will not have any significant impact on the country’s economic fortunes.
Mr. Ablakwa also urged Ghanaians to show Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party the exit in the 2024 general elections.
