We never inflated Oslo Chancery purchase as claimed by Ablakwa — Foreign Affairs Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has denied claims by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that he exposed an inflated purchase price for a property in Oslo, Norway that was intended to serve as Ghana's chancery.

In a statement released on Tuesday, May 28, the Foreign Affairs Ministry refuted Mr Ablakwa's statement that he "scuttled the inflated USD 2.2 million Oslo Chancery purchase."

The statement clarified that "There was no Acceptance of the Offer made by the Sellers of the Property, as the Ministry made clear throughout the four-year litigation with the Sellers of the Property."

It continued, "This assertion by the Ministry was confirmed by the District Court of Oslo in Norway by its judgment on 16" December 2021, which fully acquitted Ghana of the Sellers' Claim of a binding contract.

“The Ministry could have only been empowered to convey an acceptance following the requisite approvals from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and the Ministry of Finance. In view of the fact these approvals had not been given, there was no acceptance and therefore no binding contract."

The Ministry accused Mr Ablakwa of making "any statements to the contrary or create any impression of corrupt dealing by officials is therefore not only erroneous, but also a misrepresentation of the facts."