Ablakwa clashes with Oppong Nkrumah over Akosombo Dam spillage resettlement

Tempers flared between the Chairman of the Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Housing Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, during the Assurance Committee of Parliament’s sitting yesterday [August 28].

The controversy arose amid concerns about delays in completing housing units for victims of the Akosombo dam spillage.

READ ALSO: Mepe Flood Victims Still In Tents, Eight Months After Akosombo Dam Spillage

Mr Ablakwa questioned the minister about what he described as the government’s poor attitude toward addressing the suffering of those displaced by the flood.

“This is not a matter that we reduce to political football, deflection, red herrings as you are trying to do today. It’s been a year. People are living in distress, people are devastated. Your contractors after their late arrival are even behind schedule.”

“When can this committee see your ministry prioritising the plight of the victims of the VRA spillage?” he questioned.

However, Mr Oppong Nkrumah took offence to the Chairman’s posture, insisting that this was not the case.

“If we are being sincere, you have been one of the people that has been whipping up the impression that somebody doesn’t care,” he said, regarding military deployment undertaken during the spillage.

This led to a heated argument between the two.

Mr Ablakwa retorted, “this is my committee, you don’t come here and dictate. I am the chair of this committee.”

He further demanded that Mr Oppong Nkrumah retract and apologise for referring to his [Mr Ablakwa] role as a “bully pulpit.”

Mr. Ablakwa deemed the minister’s language inappropriate and insisted on a formal apology.

In his defense, the Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, questioned whether he was not allowed to address the issues raised and defend himself against what he perceived as personal attacks.

“Honourable Minister you will be well advised to watch your diction. You will be well advised. You will be well advised. I will not take that. To suggest that I am using this position as a bully pulpit.”

“You have to retract that because that is not what I am doing here. You must retract and apologise. I am well within my standing orders. You have to retract that. You have to retract and apologise,” he insisted.

In response, Mr Oppong Nkrumah questioned whether it was fair for the committee to accuse him of insincerity without allowing him the opportunity to respond or present a different perspective.

“It is okay for the Chairman of the committee and the committee to accuse the minister of being insincere, of deflecting without more and I do not have the right to answer or to share a different view?

“…If you choose to accuse me of insincerity, of introducing red herrings of deflecting that is not about the people. That is you accusing me and if you are accusing me I must have a right to respond.”