Minority ready to assist US investigate PDS – Ablakwa

The Ranking Member on Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, is optimistic the US government would give credence and a sense of urgency to the petition presented by the Minority in Parliament to investigate the Power Distribution Service (PDS) transactions with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region said the US has acknowledged the receipt of the petition and was hopeful they would soon hear something tangible from the US.

The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday petitioned the United States government over the PDS scandal that has rocked Ghana in the last few weeks.

The petition, which was signed by Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, was delivered to the US Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan, by Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Speaking in an interview with Onua FM’s Yen Sempa hosted by Bright Kwasi Asempa on Thursday, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa assured that “we want the US to trigger the investigations and call us”.

“When investigations commence, we are ready to provide information on those who are holding trust and all,” he asserted, “I can assure you that we are ready to assist in all investigations”.

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency explained that “the money belongs to the US. It was given to us under the compact II of the Millennium Challenge Account. August 2014 was the signing of the Compact II but every hour, there is a new angle to the PDS issue”.



Government’s investigations

The Ranking Member noted that Ghanaians cannot trust the government to thoroughly investigate.

“The government’s track records when it comes to investigations have been poor. The government is not ready to move from its track records so we need credible investigations”, he explained.

He added that “the US has an interest in the matter. It is their right to know what is going on in the PDS issues”.

ECG national asset

Mr. Ablakwa noted that ECG is a national asset that must not be toiled with.

“ECG is an asset of Ghanaians. It’s a cash cow for Ghanaians so you cannot trust government that it can investigate itself. You can’t trust they will do thorough and credible investigations”.