Nat'l Cathedral: We shall not be intimidated - Minority reacts to injunction on Ablakwa

The Minority members in Parliament have said they will not be intimidated by the Judiciary in the matter of the revelations on the National Cathedral project by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

They said they are determined to boldly present all aspects of “this scandal-plagued national Cathedral project,”

This was contained in a statement issued by the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said on Wednesday, February 8.

This comes after Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral Rev Kusi Boateng secured a court order injuncting Mr Ablakwa from further publications on him.

The writ said “an order of interim injunction to restrain the 1ST Respondent/ Respondent from making further public disclosures of the private information, documents, correspondence, communication and property belonging to the Applicant; and for such further order or orders as this Court deems fit,on the grounds contained in the supporting affidavit.”

Dr Ato Forson ‘s statement said “The NDC Caucus in Parliament strongly condemns the naked and shameful abuse of the judiciary by certain undemocratic elements seeking to gag NDC Members of Parliament and prevent us from carrying out our constitutional mandate of oversight.

“The instant preposterous and cowardly legal action against our respected colleague, Hon.

Victor Kusi Boateng is nothing but a desperate effort to stifle parliamentary scrutiny and pervert the course of justice.

“To grant an interim injunction preventing further publication on a matter of enormous public interest and to a man of dubious double identity is a palpable constitutional affront.”

It added “In any case, the claim by the applicant that the continuous publication of his personal information violates his privacy raises legitimate, legal and logical questions about which of his dual identities with his different names, different dates of birth, different TINS, different mothers and different national IDs actually refer to him.

“It is also most shocking that the court will grant an exparte injunction in a matter of this nature and particularly when incontrovertible court records show that the man who now claims to be Kwabena Adu Gyamfi with an alias as Victor Kusi Boateng only recently obtained judgment from the same judiciary as Victor Kusi Boateng.

“The NDC Caucus in Parliament also condemns in the strongest terms the crude disregard for the appropriate procedure of how Members of Parliament are to be served with court documents through the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament.

Multiple Speakers of Parliament across the political divide have emphasized this in many constitutionally sound rulings.

“Ambushing an MP with a secret video recording on the premises of a television station after an interview by people ironically claiming to be apostles of the protection of privacy as happened to our distinguished colleague, Hon.

Okudzeto Ablakwa on the precincts of Metro TV on the 3rd of February, 2023 can only be the orchestration of a frustrated and lawless cabal.

“It is a real travesty that under the current government, offenders are shielded and emboldened while diligent and patriotic Members of Parliament fulfilling their constitutional mandate are vilified, witchhunted and threatened with imprisonment.

“The NDC Caucus in Parliament wishes to express full confidence in the impressive, courageous and patriotic parliamentary oversight qualities with which our respected colleague, Hon.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has pursued this national cathedral conflict of interest and dual identity scandal.

Hon.

The Minority Group in Parliament hereby serves notice that we shall not be intimidated or cowed by judicial abuse, tyranny and fascist tactics.

We are determined to boldly pursue all aspects of this scandal-plagued National Cathedral project and the related matters of conflict of interest, dual identity, diversions, procurement breaches and blatant corruption without let or hindrance during this 3rd Session of the 8th Parliament.

We shall be disappointing God and our dear countrymen and women if we fail in this noble mission.

By Laud Nartey/3news.com

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