Akufo-Addo’s lawyer takes on Okudzeto Ablakwa over misinformation

Kow Essuman, the legal advisor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has accused the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, of spreading misinformation.

According to him, Ablakwa handles certain issues on social media without using the appropriate channels. His comment follows recent concerns raised by the MP about the transfer of $20 million to the Bank of Ghana without what he describes as consistent documentation.

In a post shared on X on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the North Tongu legislator said that the $20 million was cleared by officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and is supposed to be for the Central Bank of Liberia.

He said that the documents addressed to the GRA show that the money has been sent to the Bank of Ghana for safekeeping until it is transferred to Liberia, but documents from Ghana’s central bank show something different.

Ablakwa added that he is monitoring the situation to see if the money in question would be sent to Liberia and is not for the Bank of Ghana as it claims.

However, lawyer Kow Essuman has accused him of inconsistency.

In a counter message on X on August 27, 2024, Essuman stated, "Hon, I am not holding brief for @thebankofghana or anything but I am curious, is this the best way to handle such information? Again, there are inconsistencies in your write-up and the documentation posted in support thereof. I see no mention of US$20 million anywhere but for your commentary.

“I stand to be corrected. Furthermore, there is no currency stated on the Air Waybill except for 'GBP' which refers to Pounds Sterling. But even that refers to the cost of the shipment. Perhaps, you may have some additional information that no one else has but until that is disclosed, if at all, your supporting documents do not support your write-up and the allegation being made.

“If this is all you have as at now then your conclusions are premature and erroneous. The BoG letter dated August 21, 2024, which you’ve posted, states that the uncirculated banknotes have been ordered by the Central Bank of Liberia to be kept in the vault of BoG. If that is the case, then the proper consignee for the purposes of the Air Waybill is the Bank of Ghana.”

He added, “The Central Bank of Liberia cannot be the proper consignee of the goods stated on the Air Waybill. The simple question to ask is: 'Who is receiving the cash from the airline? Is it BoG or the Central Bank of Liberia?'

“The obvious answer is BoG. When the uncirculated banknotes are re-exported to Liberia, the proper consignee there will be the Central Bank of Liberia. I hope you will do the right thing and correct the misinformation in your post.”

Hon, I am not holding brief for @thebankofghana or anything but I am curious, is this the best way to handle such information? Again, there are inconsistencies in your write up and the documentation posted in support thereof. I see no mention of US$20million anywhere but for your…

— Kow Essuman (@kaessuman) August 27, 2024

I am keenly tracking the movement of some US$20million cash which arrived in Ghana via KIA this afternoon.

The cash has since been cleared by officials of the Bank of Ghana.

The Bank of Ghana must offer explanations on why supporting documents are not consistent with the… pic.twitter.com/ivjOPxRp6P

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) August 27, 2024

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