Livid, the minister who is Anyaa-Sowutuom MP confronted the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP Okudzeto Ablakwa who claimed, government had purchased a building in Norway at $12m for use as an embassy.
Photo: Okudzeto says this buidling in Oslo is to be used as Ghana’s embassy in Norway
The North Tongu MP who is Minority spokesperson on Foreign Affairs said the building was up for sale in $3.5 m as at August 2017.
His claim stunned the House as both sides sat silent.
The NDC MP presented documents to the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Professor Mike Oquaye backing his claims. The documents included a newspaper article which called the sale unethical, the NDC MP said.
But the papers was rejected as unreliable, Joy News’ Joseph Opoku Gakpo reported. The Speaker called the documents ”internet production” not “validated by a stamp, seal…which will not be accepted in any court”.
But the Foreign minister escalated the controversy outside the chamber of Parliament debunking the claims. Screaming at the NDC MP, the minister said no purchase has been made for the building in Norway.
Only an offer had been made, she said as journalists and parliamentarians surrounded the two MPs to witness the emotionally charged attack.
She expressed disappointment in the MP for failing to check with her ministry before proceeding to the floor of Parliament.
Another NDC MP Sam George incurred the minister’s wrath after she spotted him filming the confrontation. She shoved the phone off in a physical attempt to stop the recording.