Ablakwa wades into ‘Carlos Ahenkorah controversy’

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has joined conversations around the immediate-past Deputy Trade Minister, Carlos Kinsley Ahenkorah, his COVID-19 status, and his visit to some registration centers.

Mr. Ahenkorah attracted the wrath of many Ghanaians after he went touring some registration centers in his constituency despite having tested

Read full articlefor COVID-19.

For many, this was an irresponsible act considering he was endangering the lives of many others. With his position as a government official, they expected that he knew and acted better.

Defending himself however in an interview with the media, the minister said;
“I drove in my car and got there, got down, and spoke far away with the EC officer who explained the issue to me. I told her I will report this to their boss and then I just left. I was very careful. It is important for people like us to know their status because whether you like it not, we will go into the midst of people,” he told the media.

Backlash and criticism followed these comments, and subsequently, a directive from the Presidency, asking for a resignation. Hours after this, Mr. Ahenkorah resigned.

Then came in calls for prosecution. For many, the resignation was not enough of a ‘punishment’ for his actions. Some have however defended him, noting that it would be difficult to find any laws that directly ‘pin him down’.

Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, on her part, believes the calls are unfounded and exaggerated.

On the back of this, Mr. Ablakwa is asking if others penalized for flouting the ‘mask-wearing’ directives should remain in jail.

“Should the Pastors and other COVID-19 offenders remain in jail?” he wrote on a post on Facebook.