I Resigned on Principle – Okudzeto Ablakwa

Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that he resigned from the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Principle.

He maintained that his mind is made up on that position and that nothing can change him to rescind that decision, stressing that his decision is not only boarded on principle, but also on personal grounds; and that at the appropriate time, he will come out with the reasons for his action.

He was quick to point out that his resignation was not intended to chase leadership position in Parliament. While stressing that his resignation was far from such conspiracy theories out there, he stated that he was very nice with the Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.

Hon. Ablakwa made this known to newsmen in an interview regarding the statement by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. A.S.K. Bagbin, describing his resignation as a purported one.

The Speaker, in his welcome address to MPs on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, stated that he had received a purported resignation letter from the MP just a few hours before the Parliament went on recess on March 30, 2021.

He maintained that by the rules of Parliament, his acceptance of the letter would have been ultra vires for his position as Speaker of Parliament. He stated however that, procedurally intra vires for his position, as the Chairman for the Committee of Selection, acting for and on behalf of the Committee, he accordingly received the letter for consideration of the committee. He said the committee is duly bound to prepare, compose and present a report on the standing and select committees of the House for approval.

The members of the committee of selection, the Speaker said, were also recalled from recess to consider the purported resignation of the Hon. Member.

He maintained that the Committee will soon finalize and present its report to the House for consideration.

Hon. Ablakwa, on the other hand, has stressed that he is decisive and resolute in his decision regarding his resignation and not a purported one, as the Speaker averred.

By S. O. Ankamah