Former National Chairman of the governing NPP, Freddy Blay, has issued a one-week ultimatum to North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, TV3 management, and presenter Johnnie Hughes to retract what he calls baseless and unfounded allegations levelled against him and his family.
The GNPC Board Chair, incensed over accusations of his family’s involvement in state capture, insists, “My children have legitimately acquired certain portions of the beachfront from the LA Council, and where they are operating doesn’t belong to the management of Labadi Beach Hotel,” adding that the North Tongu MP is engaging in “cheap propaganda to court public opprobrium against my sons.”
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 accused former National Chairman of the NPP Mr. Kwaw Worsemao Blay and his sons as the new owners of the beachfront that had always belonged to the Labadi Beach Hotel.
Mr. Ablakwa further added that the Labadi Beach Hotel has thus 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, therefore, 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 that’s being made by Okudzeto Ablakwa and unfortunately by 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.”
Mr Blay, however, 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 it’s unfortunate that 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 render an apology to me and my family or I go to court.”
