$100k 'access fee': Minority slams Ahenkorah

The leadership of the Minority in Parliament has condemned verbal attacks launched by Deputy Trade Minister, Carlos Ahenkorah against North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, an incident which nearly degenerated into fisticuffs on Tuesday, 19 December.

It will be recalled that an interview session with a section of the media by Mr Ablakwa on the $100,000 ‘presidential access fee’ saga, was interrupted by a fuming Ahenkorah, who, but for the timely intervention of Tamale North MP, Alhassan Suhuyini, would have physically assaulted Mr Ablakwa in parliament’s lobby.

Speaking to Class News, Deputy Minority leader, James Klutse Avedzi said Mr Ablakwa reserves the right to report the matter to the Speaker of Parliament or the Privileges Committee for appropriate sanctions against Mr Ahenkorah.

Meanwhile, the Communications Director of the presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, has said the President had no idea whatsoever that expatriates were charged $100,000 to sit close to him.

“…We want to be clear that we heard it just like almost everybody from the MP for Asawase on the floor of parliament and also through the media. The president had no knowledge whatsoever about the fact that people were being charged $100,000 to sit by him on a table, he had no idea whatsoever,” Mr Arhin stressed.

The President through the Chief of Staff has directed the Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen “to come up and brief him and tell him whatever is entailed in this issue because just like you, we have no idea, absolutely no idea, the president had no idea whatsoever that a certain amount of money was being charged by anybody for people to sit by him,” Mr Arhin reiterated in an interview with Emefa Apawu on Accra-based Joy FM on Wednesday, 20 December.

Mr Arhin said “the president will make a final decision on that matter”, once Mr Kyerematen has briefed him by 5p.m. today, Wednesday, 20 December.

Mr Arhin said the President’s query to Mr Kyerematen is to enable him understand all the issues related to the alleged sale of access to him at the recently held award ceremony.