The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has refuted claims that he personally received relief items for victims of flood caused by spillage of water from the Akosombo Dam, from government.
He said he has never received any relief items personally from any group not even to talk about that of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP vehemently made this point after the MP for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, reiterated that he (Ablakwa) was seen receiving items from the government via the Finance Minister.
However, Mr Ablakwa denied ever receiving any relief items for his constituents, who have been the hardest hit by the spillage.
According to the North Tongu MP, Mr Ofori-Atta only met him at a durbar of chiefs in one of the camps and had, by then, made his donation already.
“The Finance Minister met me later when at the durbar with chiefs at the St Kizito camp where there was no presentation,” the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee said.
“According to media reports, he had done the presentation earlier with the District Assembly in the DCE’s office. I wasn’t there.
“Nothing has been given to me personally.”
He also clarified that none of the MPs in the affected areas were consulted prior to the spilling of excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA), contrary to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, on Wednesday, November 8.
‘Satanic’
Mr Ablakwa described the allegations by the Mpraeso MP as “satanic” and “mischievous”, aimed at causing disaffection between him and his constituents.
He said by the allegation, he could be confronted by the chiefs and people for the said items.
“I have personally not received any item. These are serious allegations which we cannot take lightly.
“I have never received any items from the Finance Minister.”
He pointed out that “receiving a delegation is not the same as receiving relief items”.