‘Retract and Apologise’: Ablakwa clashes with Oppong Nkrumah over “bully pulpit” remark

 Tempers nearly flared when Chairman of the Parliamentary Assurance Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa strongly demanded for a retraction and apology from the Works and Housing Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

This follows a controversy over the delays in completing housing units for victims of the Akosombo dam spillage.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Ablakwa insisted that the Minister’s comments were inappropriate and requested a formal apology.

“Honourable Minister you will be well advised to watch your diction. You will be well advised. You will be well advised. I will not take that. To suggest that I am using this position as a bully pulpit,” he said.

He proceeded to add that, “You have to retract that because that is not what I am doing here. You must retract and apologise. I am well within my standing orders. You have to retract that. You have to retract and apologise.”

Responding to the Chairman of the Committee, Mr.Oppong Nkrumah said he has the right to defend himself against the attacks on national television.

He quizzed, “It is okay for the Chairman of the committee and the committee to accuse the Minister of being insincere, of deflecting without more and I do not have the right to answer or to share a different view?”

According to Mr.Oppong Nkrumah, “…If you choose to accuse me of insincerity of introducing red herrings of deflecting, that is not about the people. That is you accusing me and if you are accusing me I must have a right to respond.”

Despite this, Mr. Ablakwa cautioned the Minister of his choice of words, maintaining that a retraction and apology were necessary, as he was acting within his rights in accordance with parliamentary standing orders.

But Mr Nkrumah shared a different view, emphasizing that if he is accused of insincerity or introducing red herrings, he must have the right to respond.

Against this backdrop, proceedings were halted for a while for calm.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme