Akufo-Addo’s Daughters Shockingly Establish 42 Companies in Just 7 Years, Earning Millions from Government Contracts
In a startling revelation, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has claimed that President Akufo-Addo’s daughters, Edwina Akufo-Addo and Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, alongside close associates, have established a staggering 42 companies within a seven-year span, reaping substantial profits from government contracts. This revelation has raised concerns over possible nepotism and corruption at the highest levels of the Ghanaian government.
One of the companies named by Ablakwa is Good Grow Limited, a marijuana company registered by the Akufo-Addo daughters and their associates shortly after Parliament approved the legalization of cannabis for industrial purposes in July 2020. Ablakwa claims that as soon as the legislation was passed, Edwina and Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, along with Steven Okoro and Alvin Mensah, moved swiftly to register the company and enter the lucrative cannabis-growing industry.
Beyond cannabis, the MP alleges that the daughters of the president have interests in multiple sectors, including mining and microfinance. These companies, according to Ablakwa, have benefited from government contracts and favorable business conditions since their father took office in 2017, raising serious concerns about the potential misuse of political influence.
One of the most shocking elements of Ablakwa’s revelations involves the procurement of 307 ambulances, allegedly at an inflated price of $54.3 million. The companies involved, some with direct ties to the president’s daughters, secured single-source contracts under questionable circumstances. A performance audit by the Auditor-General revealed that the price tag for the ambulances was far above market rates. Ablakwa noted that if the funds had been properly allocated, the government should have procured 678 ambulances instead of 307.
Among the companies implicated in the deal are Elok Consult and Services Limited, co-directed by Steven Okoro, a close associate of Gyankroma Akufo-Addo. This company alone received over $5 million for supplying 40 ambulances, despite being hastily formed just months after President Akufo-Addo assumed office in 2017. The audit further revealed that no insurance premiums were paid on the ambulances, despite an additional 10% being added to the price for insurance coverage, resulting in a $27.3 million discrepancy.
Ablakwa is now calling for a forensic audit to investigate these alarming procurement practices and financial discrepancies, and he plans to update his petition to the Special Prosecutor to ensure accountability for those involved. He argues that the revelations reflect how politically exposed persons, including the President’s daughters, have allegedly manipulated their privileged access to state resources, amassing millions of dollars through inflated government contracts across various sectors, including mining, microfinance, and agriculture.
These allegations have sparked widespread outrage, as many are questioning the fairness and transparency of Ghana’s procurement processes under President Akufo-Addo’s administration. The rapid establishment of 42 companies by the president’s daughters and their associates has left many Ghanaians concerned about the abuse of power and the erosion of trust in government institutions.
Since Akufo Addo took office as President in 2017, his daughters, along with their baby Papas, have founded 42 businesses. pic.twitter.com/J9Q3TDDk8I
— Yayra Koku (@YayraKoku) July 25, 2024
