The North Tongu Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has leveled serious accusations against the attorney, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko.
Ablakwa asserted that Gabby Otchere-Darko is putting pressure on Ministry of Finance employees to give one of his clients a payment of GHS187.3 million.
The lawmaker detailed how the President’s cousin is heavily implicated in an unethical behavior that may cost the state GHS187,356,969.55 in his most recent publication, “Kitchen Scandal.”
Ablakwa described the scandal as involving “betrayal, bravado, double standards, influence peddling, dishonesty, greed, collusion, arm-twisting, naked nepotism, and blatant misuse of public funds.”
Moreover, the North Tongu MP claimed that Mr Otchere-Darko is to blame for the transfer of the Ministry of Finance’s Chief Director, adding that other officials have allegedly been coerced into submission or fear by Gabby.
The increasing pressure from Gabby is claimed to be terrifying Ministry of Finance workers. Meanwhile, there are rumors that Mr. Patrick Nomo, the former Chief Director, was transferred because he refused to cooperate in this situation. Eva Esselba Mends, the recently appointed Chief Director and a devoted supporter of Ken Ofori-Atta, is said to be exerting pressure on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to comply with Gabby’s demand for payment within six weeks.
Therefore, Ablakwa stated that Otchere-Darko had been successful in persuading several government bodies, such as the Attorney General and individuals in the Finance Ministry, to agree to pay his new client the specified sum, even though there was no legal justification for such a payment.
In light of the current economic climate, which is characterized by a downgraded and financially stressed IMF-bailout economy, the MP expressed grave worry over the establishment of a significant GHS187.3 million obligation for the Ghanaian taxpayer.
Gabby Otchere-Darko Involved In Scandal
Ablakwa published multiple reports on August 1, 2023, and made a huge revelation that he called the “Kitchen Scandal.” He claimed that members of Akufo-Addo’s inner circle, in particular Gabby, are involved in a deal that could cause the nation to suffer significant financial losses.
He averred that it offers important insights into how President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” functions and how their activities have impeded the advancement of the country.
Moreover, Ablakwa opined that Gabby Otchere-Darko possessed enormous power, and intercepted documents to back up his assertion that he frequently succeeded in getting his way. Previously connected to instances like PDS, Agyapa, and Ameri, Gabby’s name has appeared in multimillion dollar transactions before.
The North Tongu MP claimed that in order to obtain the astronomical GHS 187.3 million payment for his new client, West Blue Company Limited, Mr Otchere-Darko masterminded a plot involving numerous government departments, including the Attorney-General and divisions under the Finance Ministry. In light of Ghana’s dependence on IMF bailouts and the current economic climate, Ablakwa underlined the irresponsibility of generating such a liability.
The North Tongu MP emphasized that GHS 187.3 million surpassed the budget allocations for several significant ministries and institutions in order to put the financial cost of the scandal into context. This includes, among others, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, National Development Planning Commission, CHRAJ, NCCE, National Pensions Regulatory Authority, and Office of the Head of Civil Service. It also included the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of Arts and Culture.
Additionally, the sum he stated, exceeded the total annual budgeted expenditure for the salaries of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, as well as the staffs of the Ministries of Food and Agriculture, Trade and Industry, and Roads and Highways, to name a few.
On top of that, he said that it also exceeded what the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration spends on major initiatives like the Zongo Development Fund, National Identification Authority, MASLOC, Water and Sanitation Initiative, and Railway Development.
READ ALSO: Deputy Finance Minister Justifies GHC20 Billion Expenditure Cut
