Okudzeto Ablakwa asserted on Twitter that, according to Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), every president must submit an Annual Report to Parliament within three months after each financial year.
He also stated that a formal search in parliament revealed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had not fulfilled this legal requirement for the year 2023.
In response, Kow Essuman, lawyer to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, addressed comments made about the current number of presidential staffers at the Jubilee House.
Essuman criticized Ablakwa on Twitter, accusing him of spreading what he termed as “reprehensible lies” regarding the number of presidential staffers.
Essuman questioned the need for Ablakwa’s request for an annual report on presidential staffers, stating that the president had already submitted such a report to parliament, as required by law.
Ablakwa promptly urged for action, insisting on the prompt submission of the annual report to parliament.
In response, Essuman countered, stating that President Akufo-Addo had met his obligations by submitting the annual report on the staffing position of the Office of the President for the year ending December 31, 2023.
Essuman elaborated on the submission process, emphasizing the formal steps taken to transmit the report to the Speaker of Parliament.
Expressing frustration, Ablakwa criticized the recurring need to remind President Akufo-Addo to adhere to the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), which requires every President to submit an Annual Report to Parliament within three months after the end of each financial year, as stated in Section 11.
He further stated, “A formal search in Parliament conducted today the 8th of April, 2024 indicates that President Akufo-Addo has still not complied with Act 463 when legally, he should have submitted the 2023 Annual Report by end of March.
“Essuman responded to Ablakwa’s assertions by questioning his methods:
“How can you demand an annual report that has already been submitted by the President? It is simply inconceivable! What kind of formal search did you conduct?”
He criticized Ablakwa for perpetuating what he considered a lie: “
What is totally reprehensible is that you continue to perpetuate this very same lie every year and, when exposed, fail to apologize to the President and the Ghanaian people.
“Essuman highlighted the formal submission process, stating, “However, considering your tenure in the House, you are presumed to be familiar with the procedure in which the President communicates directly with the Speaker of Parliament, submitting the annual report as required by Section 11 of the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463), through the Speaker.
“Essuman urged Ablakwa to retract his statement and issue an immediate, unequivocal apology to the President and the Ghanaian populace for what he termed “deliberate disinformation.”
He expressed concern that spreading baseless falsehoods by individuals in positions of authority can greatly harm the governance process.”
