Ablakwa reveals information about his rental property at Airport Hills

Finali Limited, the management company for the upscale Airport Hills area in Accra, has officially confirmed that Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is a tenant at a residence located in the prestigious neighborhood. This confirmation comes after inquiries were made by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, which sought to clarify the minister’s residential status, property ownership, and his occupancy at Plot No. 565, No. 1 Wilshire Boulevard.

In response to the committee’s request for detailed information, Finali Limited issued a statement to Bernard Ahiafor, the chairman of the Appointments Committee. The company provided an outline of the terms surrounding the minister’s tenancy agreement. The property in question is registered under a land title certificate dated December 15, 2017, and sits on a 0.29-acre plot. The statement also clarified that a formal tenancy agreement was signed between Mr. Ablakwa, the property owner Husni Altheebeh, and Nuhela Seidu on March 1, 2017. The company further granted its consent to this agreement on August 8, 2017, and it was renewed on March 1, 2022.

Finali Limited emphasized that the tenancy agreement remains valid and that all necessary permissions had been granted for Mr. Ablakwa’s occupancy. Additionally, the statement pointed out that Airport Hills is primarily a community composed of owner-occupied properties, with the possibility of renting out properties subject to the approval of the management company. The statement was accompanied by several supporting documents, including the land title certificate, a consent certificate for the 2022 renewal, and signed undertakings from both 2017 and 2022, all of which were submitted to the Appointments Committee for further examination.

Following this public clarification, Minister Ablakwa addressed the matter directly in a social media post. He took the opportunity to dismiss rumors and allegations regarding his ownership of the property, emphasizing that Finali Limited had verified that he does not own the residence but is instead a tenant. He also rejected the claim that the property covers four plots of land, stating that the residence is located on just a single plot. In his post, Mr. Ablakwa went on to assert that the property’s owner is neither a member of his family nor Ghanaian, refuting any suggestions that he had any special personal connection to the property.

Moreover, the minister rejected assertions that rentals are prohibited in Airport Hills, pointing out that the management company had confirmed that rentals are indeed allowed in the area as long as they receive the company’s approval. Mr. Ablakwa maintained that his actions have always been guided by his principles of transparency and accountability. He reiterated his commitment to fighting for the protection of the public purse and to combating what he described as state capture.

In his social media message, the Foreign Minister expressed that despite the attempts to undermine his reputation, he remains unfazed. He reminded his followers that throughout his 17 years of public service, he had never been found guilty of any wrongdoing or implicated in any audit reports. He firmly rejected any efforts to tarnish his name and declared that these attacks would not deter him from his duties. “If that is my crime, then it is a small price I am willing to pay for the protection of national resources,” he wrote. Mr. Ablakwa added that he would not be distracted from his mission, which he framed as crucial for the country’s future. He also stressed that efforts to undermine him had already failed, stating, “Their evil machinations have already failed. ORAL shall succeed. Let’s remain focused on resetting Ghana. For God and Country. Ghana First.”

The Appointments Committee had initiated its inquiry into Mr. Ablakwa’s residential status as part of the standard vetting process during his ministerial appointment. This request for clarification about his tenancy was ultimately resolved with the official statements from Finali Limited and Mr. Ablakwa’s public response, clearing up any confusion surrounding his living arrangements and property ownership.