Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Chairman of the Parliamentary Assurance Committee, has revealed that he had to assert his authority to prevent Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister for Works and Housing, from disrupting committee proceedings.

In an interview on Adom FM’s Burning Issues with Akua Boakyewaa Yiadom, Ablakwa said, “You are the Minister for Works and Housing… the dam was opened by VRA, and we owe them a duty of care and empathy. I was totally disgusted by the approach he [Kojo Oppong Nkrumah] took… He was undermining my authority as chairman, and if I hadn’t put my foot down, he would have derailed the committee’s work.”

The tension between the two politicians stems from the delay in completing housing units for victims of the Akosombo dam spillage.

Mr Ablakwa demanded an apology from Oppong Nkrumah after he described Ablakwa’s role as a “bully pulpit,” sparking further controversy earlier in the face of the Parliamentary Assurance Committee.

Ablakwa insisted that Oppong Nkrumah’s remarks were inappropriate and urged him to retract the statement and apologize.

He emphasized that his actions were within the rights afforded to him by parliamentary standing orders.

Oppong Nkrumah, however, questioned whether it was fair for the chairman to accuse him of insincerity or deflection without allowing him the opportunity to respond.

He argued that he had the right to address the concerns raised and express his views on the matter.