Probe Oslo saga – Azeem to Akufo-Addo

Anti-corruption crusader, Mr Vitus Azeem, has entreated President Nana Akufo-Addo to probe the Norway property purchase saga.

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee levelled cost inflation accusations against Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in connection with Ghana’s attempt to buy a property in Norway to serve as its Chancery.

Mr Ablakwa, who is also the North Tongu MP, petitioned the president to probe the deal although the ministry has already said it neither signed any agreement nor paid a pesewa for the property in question.

Mr Ablakwa insisted at a press conference that records existed to show that the government had entered into an agreement with the owners of the Oslo property.

Responding to the development at an encounter with the media on Wednesday, 19 December 2018, President Akufo-Addo described as “empty of substance” the allegation of inflated cost and dispelled any suggestions of a probe.

However, Mr Azeem insists there is a need for further investigation into the matter.

He told Jonas Ofori Yeboah on Class91.3FM’s 12Live news programme on Thursday, 20 December 2018 that: “That is the only way that people will be satisfied with what has happened or has not happened, because even if you say that there is no contract and it has not been signed, there was a plan. The fact that someone can sit down and plan such a thing is enough to find out the reason why the person will, in the first place, think of such a plan”.

For him, “There is the need to look at it further, not only to satisfy the NDC but to satisfy other Ghanaians who are also raising concerns about this thing”.

He said parliament has the right to set up a committee to look into the matter, but was quick to add that such a move will need the approval of the entire house and with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government having the majority “and always jumping to the defence of their colleagues, that committee cannot be set up”.

Mr Azeem, therefore, suggested that other entities such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, take the matter up.