Tensions rose during today’s sitting of the Parliamentary Assurance Committee as a heated exchange ensued, between Housing Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Chairman Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The controversy erupted during the Assurance Committee of Parliament’s session over concerns about the government’s delay in completing housing units for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage.
Mr. Ablakwa was questioning the Minister about what he described as the government’s poor attitude, toward addressing the suffering of those displaced by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.
“This is not a matter that we reduce to political football, deflection, and red herrings as you are trying to do today. Its 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 prioritizing the plight of the victims of the VRA spillage?” he quizzed.
Chairman Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa criticized Housing Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s remarks, deeming them inappropriate and demanding a formal apology.
Minister Oppong Nkrumah, however, defended his stance, questioning if he was not allowed to address the issues raised and defend himself against the accusations.
In response, Mr. Ablakwa insisted that the Minister’s comments crossed a line and emphasized that a retraction and apology were necessary, in line with parliamentary standing orders.
Ablakwa stated, “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 stated.
But Mr. Nkrumah questioned if it was acceptable for the chairman of the committee to accuse him of being insincere and deflecting without allowing him the right to respond or share a different view.
He emphasised his right to respond if something bad was said about him. “It is okay for the chairman of the committee and the committee to accuse the minister of being insincere, of deflecting, and I do not have the right to answer?.”
“…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.”
As the tension rose, Mr. Ablakwa retorted, “This is my committee, you don’t come here and dictate. I am the chair of this committee.”
The Housing Minister continued; “When you announce to the whole republic that the military had been asked to withdraw from the Volta Region, chairman, that wasn’t sincere.”
“Because the military had not been asked to withdraw from the entire Volta Region. They had been asked to move from one place to the other.”
There were further heated exchanges between the two.
