The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party administration for engaging in suspected dubious loan scheme acquisition and alleged corruption in relation to the Boankra Inland Port Project.
The North Tongu lawmaker in a scathing revealation, criticized the ruling government’s handling of the Boankra Integrated and Logistics Terminal Project, shedding light on what he describes as “reckless borrowing” and “looting” by President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia led administration.
“Those who thought the current economic crisis and debilitating debt overhang have tamed the appetite of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to depart from reckless borrowing must begin to revise their notes”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP North Tongu
Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa began by disclosing that intercepted Cabinet Memos from the government’s recent retreat, revealed that instead of the government to focus on addressing the perceived financial crisis stemming from the Boankra “debacle”, the government purportedly plans to obtain a loan through the Ghana Shippers’ Authority in a bid to salvage the “troubled” project.
He emphatically pointed out that a memo, dated March 18, 2024, from the government allegedly directs the Ministry of Finance to facilitate the loan acquisition process.
Furthermore, the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs revealed that another intercepted memo by the ruling government reportedly instructed the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to allocate 80% of its 2024 dividend from Meridian Port Services (MPS) towards revitalising the Boankra project.
Honourable Ablakwa highlighted the irony of the move, noting that the Meridian Port Services initiative was previously criticized by the New Patriotic Party while in opposition has now become a crucial lifeline for them in power.
He further raised concerns about the handling of funds by the ruling government on the Boankra Inland Port Project, particularly the alleged allocation of resources to Justmoh Construction Limited, a company according to him was handpicked by the Transport Minister.
Honourable Ablakwa also noted that despite objections from the concessionaire, Ashanti Port Services Limited (APSL), payments totalling US$33,300,000 were purportedly made to Justmoh Construction Limited, raising questions about transparency and due process.
“Only the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government can explain how a GPHA 49,140,000 ordinary shares acquired in APSL valued at US$33,300,000.00 for which a share certificate was issued by APSL will rather be paid into the bank account of an entirely different entity, Justmoh Construction Limited. The wonders never end under this create, loot and share regime!”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP North Tongu
Breach of Procurement Laws and Parliamentary Resolutions
Moreover, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa accused the New Patriotic Party administration of bypassing parliamentary resolutions and flouting procurement laws in its dealings with Justmoh Construction Limited.
Honorable Ablakwa thus disclosed that the National Democratic Congress Minority Caucus in Parliament will not support what he deemed as a detrimental loan arrangement which has been authorized by Cabinet rather cleverly by using Ghana Shippers’ Authority as a “convenient front”
He also warned potential lenders against entering into agreements with the current government, cautioning that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when elected into power may not honor such perceived dubious arrangements, especially amidst ongoing litigation and constitutional violations.
The North Tongu Member of Parliament concluded his remarks by asserting that officials complicit in the above mentioned conducts will face consequences when the National Democratic Congress is elected into power, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability.
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