Foreign Affairs Minister nominee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed his willingness to undergo another round of vetting if the Appointments Committee deems it necessary.
“If they want a second round of vetting, I am ready for them,” he declared in a Facebook post after his initial session was unexpectedly cut short due to disagreements with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Before the abrupt end, Afenyo-Markin had already subjected him to several hours of questioning.
The suspension of four MPs by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin—following their involvement in a disruptive parliamentary incident—altered the composition of the Appointments Committee, leading to the vetting’s premature conclusion.
Commenting on the situation, Ablakwa suggested that the minority had deliberately avoided further questioning. “They had every opportunity when I appeared before them for vetting, but they chose to run away,” he asserted. He also pointed out that despite their time in government, his critics had never been able to prosecute him. “During their eight years in power, they had failed to prosecute me, as they could find nothing against me.”
As the chairman of Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL), Ablakwa defended his firm stance on public accountability. “It is not a crime for a Member of Parliament to patriotically and diligently seek the protection of public resources and state assets,” he maintained.
Reaffirming his dedication to oversight responsibilities, the North Tongu MP emphasized his commitment to supporting President Mahama’s proposed reforms at the Foreign Ministry.
