Minority wants probe on Ghana’s mission scandal
The Minority in Parliament has called for a full scale enquiry into the saga over the inflated cost of a property to establish a new mission in Oslo, Norway.
According to them, there should be an independent national enquiry into the transaction which they claim has brought the image of Ghana into disrepute.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minority Spokesman on Foreign Affairs made the called a press conference in Parliament in a bid to response to certain statements and developments over the expose’ on Ghana’s new mission in Olso.
Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration at a press conference had debunked claims by Mr Ablakwa that the price of the new mission building in Oslo has been bloated.
She said the Ministry has no contract that binds it to purchase the proposed property for the new mission in Olso and has so far not spent any money, not even a cent on that property.
She said the Ministry suspended the planned purchase of that property in Oslo for the purpose of setting up a mission in that country.
She said she halted the purchase of the property last week Wednesday when news of the property price being inflated hit the Norwegian Newsstands.
“No money has exchanged hands. We don’t have a contract that will bind us to the purchase of that property and it is on hold and I have instructed and directed that we look for other properties” she said.
Mr Ablakwa also for called evidence of the Minister’s purported 12th December, letter for the suspension of the transaction as well as the responses of the parties copied in that letter.
According to Mr Ablakwa the seller of the property has an agreement with the Ministry and Ghana made some demands on the owner who proceeded to carry out those demands.
“Contractors are on site; I don’t believe that the seller is Father Christmas……that he is so forgiving that he would not charge you for the cost incurred”
Mr Ablakwa also demanded from the Akufo-Addo government the full liabilities of the cost of the mission since their checks have revealed there is an officer of the Foreign Ministry who has been stationed in Oslo and spearheading the transaction.
He said the whole decision to open an embassy in Norway came from President Akufo-Addo and there was cabinet approval but they did not know to what extent the President is aware with all the documentations.
“We want to what extent is the President aware of this transaction and he must speak to this matter, he must commission a full probe into the matter and national enquiry into transaction” he said.
Mr Ablakwa also demanded to know the persons who recommended the transactions to government and the seller who is dealing with the country in a shadowy character.
According to him the Minority is not convinced by government’s position on the issue and that the current rendition is an afterthought.
Source: GNA