A heated exchange occurred between Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Chairman of Parliament’s Governance and Assurance Committee, and Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Minister for Information, during a parliamentary session on Wednesday. The two clashed over the government’s handling of the Akosombo Dam spillage, which has left thousands displaced.
The tension erupted after Ablakwa criticized the government’s response to the disaster, labeling the Minister as “insincere” in addressing the needs of those affected by the spillage. Oppong-Nkrumah, visibly displeased, accused Ablakwa of using his position as committee chair to unfairly target government officials.
“You will be well advised to watch your diction. 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. I am well within my standing orders,” Ablakwa responded firmly, demanding an apology from Oppong-Nkrumah.
The Minister, however, defended his stance, arguing that he had the right to counter Ablakwa’s accusations. “But it is okay for the Chairman of the Committee to accuse the minister of being insincere, of deflecting without more, and I don’t have the right to answer or to say I share a different view,” he retorted.
The argument intensified to the point where the media was advised to stop covering the meeting, but Ablakwa insisted that the coverage continue, underscoring the importance of transparency.
The North Tongu MP, Ablakwa, has been vocal about the government’s inadequate support for those displaced by the spillage. Nearly a year after the incident, over 1,300 people remain in camps without compensation or sufficient assistance to rebuild their lives. Ablakwa also criticized the government’s inter-ministerial committee for failing to engage with MPs from affected areas, questioning the committee’s effectiveness and commitment to resolving the crisis.
The exchange between Ablakwa and Oppong-Nkrumah highlights the growing frustration over the government’s response to the disaster and the ongoing plight of the affected communities.