The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has strongly denied reports claiming he approved a US$5.2 million contract for the renovation of Ghana’s embassy in Benin.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Mr. Ablakwa dismissed the allegations as completely false and urged the public to treat them with “utter contempt.”
“For the record, I have not awarded any embassy renovation contract anywhere in the world. Let me be clear — not a single embassy renovation or construction contract has been awarded by me since I became Foreign Minister,” he wrote.
Mr. Ablakwa further stated that, rather than authorizing new contracts, he has acted to protect public funds by cancelling questionable deals inherited from the previous administration. He cited the cancellation of a $3.5 million single-source contract for renovation works on Ghana’s embassy in Abidjan, which was awarded on November 7, 2024.
The Foreign Minister reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility, pledging to uphold the trust of the Ghanaian people.
“I shall never betray the trust of the Ghanaian people as we work tirelessly, and with integrity, to achieve President Mahama’s Reset Agenda,” he stated.
