The Minister nominee for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has recounted how his oversight and due diligence efforts saved Ghana millions of dollars.

According to him, all his parliamentary interventions, oversight duties, and due diligence as a Member of Parliament and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee have been in the national interest.

Speaking during his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Mr Ablakwa detailed his investigation into the proposed purchase of the Oslo Chancery, Ghana's diplomatic office in Norway.

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He explained that the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, had initially informed Parliament that they were planning to purchase the chancery for $50 million.

However, through his own research, he discovered that the property had actually been purchased just months earlier for only $4 million.

“I should be commended that I saved this country $12.2 million. Remember that you [Former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister] had appeared before us that you were going to purchase that chancery. You brought us the information that you were about to purchase that chancery, based on the $50 million facility that the honorable Hannah Tetteh secured before she left the ministry.

“I then decided to carry out due diligence, and in the work that I did, not being an armchair ranking member who is told that we are going to buy a chancery, and then I give you approval, blank check, go ahead, go and buy. When I did due diligence, I discovered that the property had been purchased a few months before Ghana was going to buy it for $12.2 million for $4 million and I raised the alarm,” he explained.

The North Tongu MP further stated that Ghana won the case because the Foreign Affairs Ministry had not authorised the official who attempted to commit Ghana to the purchase.

He emphasised that this lack of authorisation was a key reason why Ghana prevailed in the legal dispute, and the official involved was reprimanded for proceeding without full approval.

“What I put out was not false. It was factual. Court documents confirm it. The Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, represented Ghana in the Norwegian courts and stated that the Foreign Service official in question did not have authorisation,” he said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister nominee further stressed that his actions were motivated by patriotism, not personal interests.

“It’s simply love for country. As I always say: ‘For God and country.’ It’s a tough job. I understand that some may not like me for it, but someone has to step up and save the country money. That’s my only motivation,” he stated.