A former National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a one-week ultimatum to Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to retract what he calls baseless and unfounded allegations levelled against him and his family.
The warning also goes to the management of TV3 and presenter Johnnie Hughes
Mr. Freddy Blay was incensed over accusations that his family was involved in state capture.
The Labadi Hotel beachfront, a stretch of land operated by many as a source of entertainment, has recently become controversial after North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa alleged a grand scheme of state capture perpetuated by top NPP officials.
The NDC MP accused the former National Chairman and GNPC Board Chair Kwaw Worsemao Blay and his sons as the new owners of the beachfront that had always belonged to the Labadi Beach Hotel.
Mr. Blay, however, argued his children legitimately acquitted certain portions of the beachfront from the La Council and that where they operate does not belong to the Labadi Beach Hotel.
He accused the North Tongu MP of engaging in “cheap propaganda to court public opprobrium against my sons.”
Mr. Ablakwa indicated that the Labadi Beach Hotel has become the only beachfront hotel in the world that does not have exclusive control over its entire beachfront.
Sadly, because of the powerful politically exposed persons involved in this shady encroachment, the Board and management of the Labadi Beach Hotel appear helpless.
But reacting to the allegations, Mr. Blay explained that the beach management tried to do business with his children, but negotiations broke down because they wanted more money from it. He added that after the hotel closed the entrance to the Polo Beach Club, his sons officially approached the La Council to acquire the beachfront for its operations.
“If the hotel considers that somebody has taken its lands, the courts are there; they should go to court. I have seen correspondence that tried to negotiate for them to work together, but it never worked – so nobody has taken anybody’s land, definitely not my children, they are not involved in any state capture.”
“The impression by Okudzeto Ablakwa and unfortunately some press men like Johnnie Hughes and TV3 management, making Ghanaians know that those doing legitimate business without stepping on anybody’s shoes is an illegality, is unfortunate,” he stated.
He issued a one-week ultimatum to the North Tongu MP and TV3 presenter Johnnie Hughes to apologize over the claims of state capture.
“I feel very defamed, where my sons are operating is not for Labadi Beach Hotel, it is not their property, and, unfortunately, Ablakwa and Johnnie are making it look like I have stolen the lands, making people call me a thief.
“I give Okudzeto Ablakwa and TV3 management, including Johnnie Hughes, one week to apologize to me and my family or I go to court,” he warned.