North Tongu lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that the issue of government officials acquiring state properties will be over under a Mahama administration.
He says that even if the current president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo refuses to sign the Private Members Bill that he is seeking to introduce, barring government officials from acquiring state properties, former President John Mahama will sign it f he wins the elections.
Commenting on the media engagement done by the flagbearer of the NDC on Sunday, July 7, Mr Ablakwa said 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.”
Earlier, Ablakwa indicated that he would oppose any government official even if the person is a member of his party the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who attempts to acquire state assets.
He said he started opposing state capture 16 years ago when he took the former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey to court for acquiring state properties.
He however lost that case against Mr Lamptey.
“This will be my position even if the person is a member of my party,” he said on the New Day show on TV3 on Wednesday, June 19.
Ablakwa had been up against the Agric Minister Bryan Acheampong in a move to acquire the hotels belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
It was his view that Bryan Acheampong was caught in a conflict of interest situation. Per the records, he said, Bryan Acheampong was a Minister of State when the processes to acquire the hotels started.
“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.
