Former Minister for Information, Nana Akomea has criticised the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assurance Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for what he described as the latter's attack on the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. 

Tensions nearly escalated when Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during a committee meeting, demanded to retract and apologise for referring to his role as a “bully pulpit.” 

The controversy arose amid concerns about delays in completing housing units for victims of the Akosombo dam spillage. Mr. Ablakwa insisted that the Minister’s comments were inappropriate and requested a formal apology. 

In response, Minister Oppong Nkrumah questioned whether he could not address the issues raised and defend himself against the attacks. 

Despite this, Mr. Ablakwa cautioned the Minister about his choice of words, maintaining that a retraction and apology were necessary, as he was acting within his rights according to parliamentary standing orders. 

“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 replied, questioning 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 that if he is accused of insincerity or introducing red herrings, he must have the right to respond. 

“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 are accusing me, and if you are accusing me, I must have a right to respond.” 

 But commenting on the matter on Metro TV, Nana Akomea, who's the Managing Director of Intercity STC, told Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was a co-panelist, that he could have handled the matter better without attacking the Minister. 

"Clearly, Sammy, I don't think you acted well. You are talking about the victims, the 1,300 people. All of us are concerned about the plight of these people living in tents for over a year. The concern is that their plight is addressed; that is why you brought the minister to the committee to find out how the government is going to deal with their plight. 

"But you see, in all of the week, what is being discussed is not the plight of these people. What is being discussed is your attack on the minister and his counterattack. You are entitled to your facts, and he's also entitled to his facts. Both of you, your entitlement to the fact is what is being discussed now, instead of the plight. 

"What I am saying is that the people who appear before you are your guests. You have invited them; you can be forthright with them, but you have to protect their integrity, but you didn't do that. So, that was a problem. I disagree with your conduct at the sitting, but I am not going to attack you. I will not say you were arrogant; you will see that as a personal attack." Nana Akomea said. 

KA

Hassan Ayariga is our guest on the latest edition of Election Desk on GhanaWeb TV with host, Etsey Atisu. Catch the full interview below: