Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament for North Tongu, has claimed, based on documents in his possession, that the Office of the President spent more than GH$191 million in the first nine months of last year.
In a social media post dated January 31, 2023, Ablakwa said that the disputed sum was the result of a calculation of 10 of 250 spending items from a government report he was still studying at the time.
Over GHC51 million cedis were allocated in the presidency’s budget for gasoline expenses alone between January and September of 2022.
He said, “The President’s “operational enhancement expenditure” (whatever that animal is) cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a mind-boggling GHS59.4million (59,486,108.91); The fuel bills paid at the presidency within the 9-month period under review cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a colossal GHS51.1million. (51,109,137.86).
“Empirical analysis conducted reveals that government failed abysmally in its promise to slash fuel expenditure by 50%; President Akufo-Addo’s regional tours last year cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a staggering GHS16.9million (16,906,272.45). Tyres and Batteries for official vehicles cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer an unbelievable GHS15million (15,000,000.00)”.
“The last Cabinet Retreat cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer a whopping GHS4.8million. Payment for new vehicles cost the suffering Ghanaian taxpayer GHS6.5million (6,500,000.00) – this is particularly distressing considering Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s announcement of a ban on imported official vehicles in March last year” he continued.
Ablakwa closed his message by pointing out that he had only highlighted 10 out of 250 total things in the report he was reading.
“Instructively, the 10-item expenditure summary above which amounts to a massive GHS191,522,061.68
represents a tiny sample selection from more than 250 expenditure items contained in the Expenditure
Documents currently under parliamentary scrutiny”. he stated.
Read the full post below:
Recently the North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, made similar allegation that the National Cathedral administration used all the funds from a fundraiser in the United States to pay for two conferences in Accra. The legislator claimed, without citing his sources, that two conferences hosted by the Bible Museum at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra cost approximately GH$794,000 in total.
Source – Tru News Report
