Okudzeto Ablakwa accuses Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government of reckless midnight contracts

The member of parliament of North Tongu Constituency and Chairman of the ”Operation Recover All Loot” (ORAL) committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has once again raised concerns over what he describes as the reckless and unpatriotic actions of officials in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.

According to a post made on X (formerly Twitter), Ablakwa said that intercepted memos continue to expose the government’s involvement in awarding questionable midnight contracts and pressuring institutions to make full payments before the inauguration of the new administration on January 7, 2025.

Ablakwa highlights a particularly controversial case involving the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), where, he alleges, the Board of Directors hastily approved an electronic servicing agreement worth US$750,000 (approximately GHS12 million) just three days ago. Deep throat sources within the ADB have informed Ablakwa that the bank is under intense political pressure to complete the payment by tomorrow, December 27, 2024.

This, despite the fact that the agreement, which involves the vendor Virtual Security Africa, remains in draft form, and negotiations with the vendor have not yet been finalised.

The decision has reportedly sent shockwaves through ADB’s top officials, with many expressing concern over the lack of due process. Sources say that the deal bypassed the bank’s audit department, raising red flags about its legitimacy and transparency.

Ablakwa argues that these actions exemplify the government’s disregard for due process, urging the public to hold accountable those responsible for these hurried transactions.

He points to an earlier caution from the President-elect’s Transition Team, which had advised against such last-minute deals. This caution mirrors similar warnings given by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016, when they were in opposition.

Ablakwa concludes his post by emphasising that those who succumb to political pressure and authorise such payments will be held accountable after the new administration takes office in January.

“We have intercepted a considerable number of these internal memos on these dubious transactions, and public officials who proceed with these payments will have themselves to blame,” he said.

The growing number of allegations surrounding the government’s last-minute actions is expected to fuel ongoing political debates in the lead-up to the transition of power.