Akosombo Dam Spillage Resettlement: Okudzeto Ablakwa And Oppong Nkrumah Clash In Parliament

The head of the Parliament’s Governance and Assurance Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, sparked a heated argument when he demanded that Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the minister of works and housing, withdraw and apologize for characterizing his committee’s function as a “bully pulpit.”

The disagreement started when people were talking about the delays in finishing the housing units for the people impacted by the 2023 Akosombo dam leak.

Mr. Ablakwa demanded a formal apology, believing the Minister’s words to be unacceptable.

The Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, defended himself by asking if he was not permitted to address the concerns brought up and defend himself against what he believed to be personal attacks.

But Mr. Ablakwa remained steadfast, cautioning the Minister about his word choice and emphasizing the necessity for an apology and retraction while maintaining that his actions were perfectly compliant with parliamentary procedure.

“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.

In response, Mr. Nkrumah countered by questioning whether it was fair for the committee to accuse him of insincerity without allowing him the opportunity to respond or present a different perspective.

“…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.”