Hon. Ursula Owusu has been taunting North Tongu MP, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, calling his assertions “ignorant rants” over accusations he has leveled against the Communications Ministry that the minister signed a contract worth $48 million without PPA approval.
“I’m still waiting for the $48 million contract I’m supposed to have signed without PPA approval. That hasn’t been produced yet Ablakwa is now jumping from pillar to post. I won’t dignify ignorant rants with a response. I have work to do.” She posted on Twitter.
On July 6, 2023, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, accused the government of selectively prosecuting political opponents whiles covering up their real crimes against the Ghanaian people.
The accusation stemmed from a $48 million contract that according to Hon. Ablakwa, was without PPA approval.
After the June 6 expose, Hon. Ablakwa published a letter from GIFEC ostensibly admitting to the contract in contention thereby setting the stage for an anti-corruption showdown between the North Tongu MP and the Government of Ghana.
However, it turns out the facts do not support the claims made by the MP.
According to Agya Oppong Kyekyeku, the government through a financing arrangement with China gave a contract to Huawei and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC). The contract followed all due processes including Cabinet, Parliamentary, and PPA approval.
There are two parts of the contract, one being executed by Huawei and the other being executed by CNTIC.
For their part of the contract, CNTIC has engaged Ascend Digital Solutions as their local partner. This is a business-to-business arrangement that did not require PPA approval.
Hon. Ablakwa wrote to PPA requesting details of their approval of a contract between the Ministry of Communications and Ascend Digital Solution for a rural telephony project in 2020. PPA said they don’t have anything on a contract between the Ministry of Communications and Ascend and rightfully so because the Government has not engaged Ascend. It is CNTIC that engaged Ascend Digital Solutions.
Hon. Ablakwa has since pivoted from lack of due process allegations to accusing Ascend Digital of being owned by a Nigerian cabal who gets all “juicy contracts” the Ministry of Communications has to offer.
