Lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of North Tongu has declared that under a Mahama administration, the problem of public servants obtaining state properties will be resolved.
He claims that former President John Mahama will sign the Private Members Bill he is trying to introduce, which would prevent public officials from purchasing state assets, even if current President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo refuses to sign it. If he wins the elections.
Regarding the NDC flagbearer’s Sunday, July 7, media appearance, Mr. Ablakwa stated on X that “it is most refreshing to hear former President John Mahama assure the nation during his masterful, inspirational, sincere, and intellectually stimulating engagement with the media that no member of his government will be allowed to buy state assets.”
“We are convinced that even if President Akufo-Addo refuses to assent to our Private Member’s Bill prohibiting politicians and politically exposed persons from buying state assets, President Mahama will not hesitate in granting presidential assent when he wins the December 7, 2024 elections.
“Very gratifying to know that the canker of State Capture will soon be vanquished under President Mahama.”
Prior to this, Ablakwa made it clear that he would oppose any government official who tried to obtain public assets, regardless of whether the official belonged to his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He claimed that 16 years ago, he began to oppose state capture when he sued the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for obtaining state properties.
But in the case against Mr. Lamptey, he was unsuccessful.
In an attempt to purchase the hotels owned by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ablakwa had to deal with Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong.
He felt that Bryan Acheampong was involved in a position where there was a conflict of interest. He stated that according to the records, Bryan Acheampong was a Minister of State at the time the acquisition procedures for the hotels began.
“Bryan Acheampong was a minister of state in 2018 in Akufo-Addo’s first term, he was minister when this traction began, according to SSNIT. Articles 284, 78 have been breached violently,” he said on the New Day show on TV3 on Wednesday, June 19.