Ahenkorah-Okudzeto brawl: Minority rejects second apology

The Minority has rejected an apology by the Deputy Trades Minister, Carlos Ahenkorah, over his recent bust-up with Member of Parliament of North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Mr Ahenkorah clashed with Mr Ablakwa in Parliament after he felt the MP was tarnishing the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration with corruption allegations.

Mr Ablakwa had been granting an interview to journalists, as the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, on the recent Ghana Expatriate Business Awards event.

The government was accused of charging expatriates between $25,000 and $100,000 to allow them to sit close to the President at the event.

Unhappy with Mr Ablakwa’s comments in the interview, Mr Ahenkorah described the North Tongu MP as a “big liar” and one who has stolen all his life.

However, addressing the media in Parliament, Mr Ahenkorah apologised for his comments, for the second time, but the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak says the apology is unacceptable.

He said his side of the House will trigger disciplinary procedures against the Deputy Minister if he does not apologise properly.

“Did you hear his apology…that is not how to make an apology. He is supposed to apologise properly,” he told Joy News’ Joseph Opoku Gapko.

The Chief Whip said there has been an earlier conversation and an agreement on how he should go about the apology and until he does that, “we will insist that the right thing is done.”

But the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu says it’s too early to draw a conclusion that the apology is unacceptable.

He explained that Mr Ahenkorah was advised to get Mr Ablakwa by his side during his apology “as a sign of good gesture”, and once he finishes they could also shake hands before the cameras.

“But unfortunately when we left and came to the chamber, Okudzeto was nowhere to be seen in the chamber and according to him [Ahenkorah], he called several times but did not hear from him[Okudzeto],” he added.

Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu said discussions will be had with the Minority on the way forward.