The Minority Caucus in Parliament has disassociated itself from the approval of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
This comes after the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, questioned Ablakwa’s role in the ‘Operation Recover All Loot’ (ORAL) committee activities, citing its unconstitutionality.
Despite the approval of Mr Ablakwa by the Majority Caucus, the Minority, representing 88 legislators, abstained from a voting process for the confirmation of his nomination.
The Minority insisted that the records in Parliament concerning Mr Ablakwa’s approval should only reflect the sole decision of the Majority.
While acknowledging the Foreign Affairs Ministry as an important institution of the state, Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasised that the Minority had abstained from approving Mr. Ablakwa at the committee level, leaving his confirmation to be decided by the Majority alone.
In a similar manner when Pontius Pilate washed his hands off Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, the Second Deputy Whip, Habib Iddrisu, offered water to Mr Afenyo-Markin to wash his hands, signifying the Minority’s dissociation from Mr Ablakwa’s approval.
“Mr Speaker, we are washing our hands to tell them that we are not part of the sins that he has committed. All the Airport Hills sins are on their head. If tomorrow, he and his ORAL team pursue you, it is on your head, but if he repents and comes back to this House, we will accept him and welcome him,” Mr Afenyo-Markin declared.
He acknowledged that Mr Ablakwa had distinguished himself in issues related to his new portfolio but said the Minority was uncomfortable with his role as chairman of the ORAL committee, as stated on his curriculum vitae.
Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned the legality of ORAL, arguing that while the Minority was not opposed to efforts to investigate corruption, it disapproved Mr Ablakwa’s leadership of the task force.
“Mr Speaker, we are against his chair of this ORAL and their activities in the country; we think and we hold this view firmly that their actions are taking this country back,” he said.
The Majority Leader also argued that the country already had established anti-corruption institutions such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Financial Crime Office, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and specialised divisions within the Ghana Police Service.
He accused Mr Ablakwa of “holding people’s feet to the fire” and demanding accountability from the political class, adding, “It means that you yourself must demonstrate that”.
He further assured Mr. Ablakwa that he would never stand in the way of his political progress.
“I am a politician like you, and I will not be the one to be pursuing you,” he added.
