In a dramatic twist that has rocked Ghana’s political and financial landscape, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has revealed that three pivotal figures implicated in the contentious $108 million ambulance procurement deal involving President Akufo-Addo’s daughters have fled Ghana just days before the December 7, 2024, elections.
The individuals — Stephen Okereke Elendu Kalu Okoro, Frank Agyekum Boateng, and Vivian Oppong Kyekyeku — are alleged to have played central roles in what has been described as an inflated sweetheart deal that siphoned millions of taxpayer dollars.
Who Are They and Where Did They Go?
According to Hon. Ablakwa, Stephen Okoro, a close business associate of Gyankroma and Edwina Akufo-Addo and the father of one of the president’s grandchildren, departed Ghana on November 27 aboard British Airways flight BA2066. He is reported to have used both Nigerian and Ghanaian passports. Okoro is a director of Elok Consult and Services Limited, a company accused of orchestrating the ambulance importation deal.
Frank Agyekum Boateng, identified as a director of BEFT Engineering, left Ghana on November 26 on a United Airlines flight to Washington, D.C. He used a Ghanaian passport, Ablakwa noted.
Vivian Oppong Kyekyeku of Luxury World Auto Group Limited exited the country earlier, flying to New York on August 31 aboard Delta Airlines. She also reportedly presented dual passports — Ghanaian and U.S.
The Scandal Unfolds
The $108 million ambulance deal has been mired in controversy since July when Ablakwa exposed alleged irregularities in the procurement process. Elok Consult and Services Limited, along with other hastily incorporated companies linked to the accused trio, were allegedly single-sourced to import the ambulances at highly inflated costs.
A subsequent investigation by the Auditor-General uncovered a series of illegalities, including an unauthorized $34.9 million payment for spare parts allegedly approved by then-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta shortly before his exit.
Legal and Political Implications
Hon. Ablakwa, known for his incisive parliamentary oversight, has filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The absconding of these key figures raises questions about Ghana’s ability to enforce accountability in high-profile corruption cases.
“This is not the end,” Ablakwa declared in his social media post. “The Ghanaian people shall have the accountability they have been yearning for. For God and Country. Ghana First.”
International Collaboration Needed
The MP called for urgent international collaboration to track and extradite the individuals. “They can run, but they surely can’t hide,” he asserted, emphasizing that the fight for justice will continue.
Public Outrage Grows
The revelations have sparked widespread public outrage, with many calling for stronger measures to prevent such scandals. Critics argue that the timing of the fugitives’ departure is no coincidence, as it conveniently occurred before an election that could significantly shift the political landscape.
As the nation awaits action from the incoming government, the saga underscores the need for robust mechanisms to curb corruption and ensure that no individual, regardless of their connections, is above the law.
By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh