Through the intervention of Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa, the government has successfully put a stop to two controversial transactions that were initiated during the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
The diplomatic properties in Nigeria and Zambia, which were earmarked for sale by the former government under the supervision of then-Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, now serving as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, faced impending dispossession.
Upon assuming office last month, Minister Ablakwa made a firm commitment to retain ownership of these important assets for Ghana.
In a briefing to Parliament on Friday, Ablakwa announced that, with the full support of President John Dramani Mahama, he has halted the sale agreements and is actively working to recover an illicit partial payment made in one of the transactions.
Furthermore, he revealed that the individuals responsible for the unauthorized payment, who are currently evading authorities, will be pursued and held accountable.
“Yesterday, I informed Parliament that, with President Mahama’s unequivocal support, we have nullified two transactions initiated by the preceding Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration to offload Ghanaian diplomatic properties in Nigeria and Zambia.
We are resolutely striving to recover an unlawful partial payment related to one of these transactions. The instigators, presently at large, will be tracked down and face consequences,” Ablakwa stated in a post on his official Facebook page on Saturday, March 30.
Affirming the current government’s stance, Ablakwa emphasized that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguard all of Ghana’s diplomatic assets, both domestically and internationally.
Asserting that no Ghanaian diplomatic properties are available for sale to any party, he stressed that the core values of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, which he leads, will shape his decision-making.
“We unequivocally declare that no diplomatic property owned by the people of Ghana will be sold under our supervision.
We caution that none of our diplomatic assets within Ghana or among our 71 diplomatic outposts worldwide are on the market—hands off!
The ethical principles of ORAL, unwavering opposition to State Capture, and preservation of the national interest will continue to inform our actions. For God and Country,” Ablakwa concluded.