Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairman of the President-elect’s Orall team responsible of investigating corruption alleged government officials, has accused officials in the outgoing Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of rushing to approve questionable “midnight contracts” ahead of the January 7, 2025 transition.
In a post on social media platform X, Ablakwa alleged that reckless and unpatriotic decisions are being made under political pressure to fast-track payments for controversial agreements, bypassing standard auditing and procurement processes.
Controversial $750,000 ADB Deal
Ablakwa highlighted a recent case involving the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), where the Board reportedly approved a $750,000 (GHS 12 million) electronic servicing agreement with Virtual Security Africa.
According to Ablakwa, the decision was made just three days ago and is under intense scrutiny as internal sources at ADB reveal that the agreement is still in draft form, and negotiations with the vendor have not been finalized.
Furthermore, the deal allegedly skipped the audit department’s review, raising serious concerns about its legitimacy.
Insiders have reportedly expressed shock at the Board’s decision, claiming they are being subjected to extreme political pressure to ensure full payment is made by December 27, 2024.
Transition Team’s Caution
Eventjough the President-elect’s Transition Team, Co-chaired by former Chief of Staff Julious Debrah has previously issued warnings against such last-minute financial decisions. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa compared the current situation to similar concerns raised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016, when they cautioned against rushed financial commitments by the outgoing administration.
“The mad rush for midnight contracts and payments has reached uncontrollable levels despite a clear caution from the President-elect’s Transition Team,” Ablakwa wrote, adding that such actions are both reckless and unpatriotic.
Public Officials Warned
Ablakwa emphasized that intercepted internal memos expose numerous dubious transactions being pushed through under political pressure.
He warned public officials involved in these deals that they would be held accountable after the January 7 transition.
“Public officials who succumb to unlawful political pressure and effect payments will have themselves to blame after January 7, 2025,” he cautioned.
Public Accountability
The post has sparked widespread public interest, with many calling for transparency and accountability in the handling of state funds during the transition period. Ablakwa concluded his statement with a patriotic call: “For God and Country. Ghana First.”
The allegations add to growing concerns about governance and financial prudence as the nation prepares for a change in administration.
The public awaits further developments, as scrutiny on outgoing officials intensifies.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
