Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The recent past Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has challenged the new administration to substantiate corruption allegations leveled against the NDC while they (the NPP) were in opposition.
“All the rumors, the name-calling, the vilification and accusations – it is time for those who have alleged to substantiate”, he stated.
Adding: “It is time to show true commitment in the fight against corruption, now that you are in office”
The former Minister said these when reacting to corruption allegations made against him and the NDC government under which he served.
Speaking in an interview with the West Afrikan Source’s Clifford Yaw Frimpong about a week ago, Mr. Ablakwa expressed displeasure at what he described as falsehood used by the NPP to kick the NDC out of power.
According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), contrary to the true picture, made Ghanaians believe that the NDC were so corrupt and as a result voted them out of office.
“If someone is indeed corrupt, yes, let’s call them out, let’s expose them and prosecute them to set an example; however let’s not just make wild allegations when there is actually no evidence or basis”, he insisted.
The former Minister, who served in all two terms of the NDC government, said the culture of smear politicking in Ghanaian politics was worrying and needed to be eschewed.
“Very soon, the people on our side who are unhappy about the falsehood put out by the NPP to get us out of office, will do same to them and that becomes a vicious cycle which is not what we want”, he indicated.
Corruption allegations
Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa was one of the officials in the outgone NDC administration, whose name was constantly on the lips of NPP communicators, accused of amassing wealth through abuse of public office.
The then opposition party alleged that the young Minister owned scads of fuel stations among other big investments across the country and overseas.
However responding to the allegations, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that the claims were unfounded and were mere pejorative speculations spread by the NPP to create opprobrium.
“They speculated that I own many fuel stations when indeed I do not own a single one. I am not a businessman nor am I in the oil industry. I do not see public service as a moneymaking opportunity… I have never dipped my hands in state coffers”, he averred.
Enough of the mudslinging
According to the former Minister, the torrent of vilification and name-calling in the country’s politics had besmirched the political space and as a result had discouraged many public-spirited people from serving the country.
“There’s too much dirt and filth in our politics and that has kept many good people away from serving the nation”, he opined.
The forthright, 36-year-old Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency called on the NPP administration to investigate his stewardship and prosecute him if found guilty of any malfeasance.
