The Parliamentary Assurance Committee has resolved a clash between its Chairman, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, over delays in completing housing units for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage.
The incident, which nearly escalated, was described by committee member Andrew Dari Chiwitey as a “simple issue” that was blown out of proportion due to communication challenges.
The verbal exchange began when Ablakwa demanded that Oppong Nkrumah retract and apologize for referring to his role as a “bully pulpit.”
Ablakwa insisted that the Minister’s comments were inappropriate and called for a formal apology.
In response, Nkrumah questioned whether he was not allowed to address the issues raised and defend himself against perceived attacks.
Despite this, Ablakwa maintained that a retraction and apology were necessary, emphasizing that he was acting within his rights according to parliamentary standing orders.
In an interview with Selorm Adonoo on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Wednesday, Chiwitey explained that the committee chairman was simply seeking a direct answer from the minister. However, the minister hesitated, possibly to avoid implying that the government was not performing effectively, leading to a brief but intense debate.
“It was just some simple issue. The chairman of the committee just wanted a straight answer from the minister, but the minister also did not want to go that straight because probably he felt that if he should accept that fact it would look like his government was not working or something.”
“If not, it was not supposed to generate any challenges or any debate or something…But we got it resolved. We had to call for a five-minute break. We went and we got issues resolved and came back and continued with the work,” Chiwitey stated.
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spams, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital
