Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a lawyer and cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has become the latest individual to be scrutinized by North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, under parliamentary oversight.
On August 1, 2023, Ablakwa made a significant revelation through a series of posted documents, which he termed the “Kitchen Scandal.” He alleges that Akufo-Addo’s inner circle, particularly Gabby, is involved in a deal that could lead to substantial financial losses for the country.
The scandal, valued at GHS 187,356,969.55, is described by Ablakwa as a tale of betrayal, double standards, influence peddling, dishonesty, greed, collusion, nepotism, and misuse of public funds. He contends that it provides valuable insights into the workings of President Akufo-Addo’s “Kitchen Cabinet” and how their actions have hindered national progress.
Ablakwa accuses Gabby Otchere-Darko of wielding significant influence, with intercepted documents supporting the claim that what he wants often gets done. This isn’t the first time Gabby’s name has surfaced in multimillion-dollar transactions, as he was previously linked to cases like PDS, Agyapa, and Ameri.
The North Tongu MP asserts that Gabby orchestrated a scheme involving various government sections, including the Attorney-General and elements within the Finance Ministry, to secure the staggering GHS 187.3 million payment for his new client, West Blue Company Limited. Ablakwa emphasizes the irresponsibility of creating such a liability in the current economic situation, with Ghana relying on IMF bailouts.
Putting the monetary value of the scandal in perspective, Ablakwa highlights that GHS 187.3 million exceeds the budget allocations for several important ministries and institutions. This includes the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Office of the Special Prosecutor, National Development Planning Commission, CHRAJ, NCCE, National Pensions Regulatory Authority, and Office of the Head of Civil Service, among others.
Additionally, the amount exceeds the total annual budgeted expenditure for salaries of lawyers and staff at the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, staff at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, staff at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and staff of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, to name a few. It is also greater than what the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government spends on flagship programs like Railways Development, Water and Sanitation Initiative, National Identification Authority, MASLOC, Fish Landing Sites, and Zongo Development Fund.
