Claim: Okudzeto Ablakwa says he earns 15,000 cedis as an MP
Source: Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin
Verdict: False
Researched by Alfa Shaban
Background
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during his vetting on January 31, 2024 (archived here), as Minister of Foreign Affairs, was scrutinised about his career, source of earnings, and matters relating to his accommodation.
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In his responses to Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin (Minority Leader and Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee), Ablakwa (who is the Member of Parliament for North Tongu) disclosed that he had been living in a rented property at Airport Hills.
His vetting, which lasted close to six hours, ended abruptly after the Minority Caucus recused themselves from the process after the Speaker of Parliament suspended three of their members, of which two were members of the Appointment Committee.
Days later, Afenyo-Markin addressed a press conference at Parliament where he revisited the issue of Ablakwa’s claims relating to his rent.
“Today, when his CV is being scrutinised, he says he is a tenant. 15,000 cedis is what he disclosed as his regular income and he said to the whole public that all he earns is what he gets from Parliament, 15,000 Ghana cedis. He doesn’t do any other work. Yet, he is able to afford Airport Hills for eight years, every month he pays,” Afenyo-Markin said (archived here).
This report seeks to verify if Okudzeto Ablakwa spoke about his earnings during the vetting.
Fact-check
GhanaFact revisited the 6-hour vetting of Ablakwa, as shared by state broadcaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, and did not find anywhere that he mentioned that he earned a specific amount of money as a Member of Parliament.
At the 5:23:58 seconds mark, he was asked by Afenyo-Markin: “Between 2013 and now, have you done any work apart from your politics?”
“Full-time politician,” Ablakwa replied.
When asked about other revenue sources, he replied: “Apart from little savings, investments, and the support of my dearest lawyer wife.”
However, the Majority Leader and MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga questioned Ablakwa on the ‘full politician’ reply, guiding him to correct the record that he was a public servant and that there is no job such as a politician.
During the presentation of the committee report before Parliament on February 5, 2025, Afenyo-Markin in his address reiterated that Ablakwa said he earned 15,000 cedis yet he could afford to rent in an upscale part of town where rent is dollar-rated.
“Mr Speaker, for eight years, the member says that all he has is his MP salary of 15,000. He says that all he does is his MP work,” Afenyo-Markin stressed in his submission before announcing that the Minority did not support the approval of Ablakwa.
Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, dispelled the claim on the floor of the House stating:
“First and foremost, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa never said anytime, anywhere that he earns 15,000 Ghana cedis a month. He never said that, he never said that… all of us in this Chamber know how much we earn, and we do not earn 15,000. So, you cannot say that he earns 15,000 and use 15,000 as a benchmark to determine where he sleeps.”
During an appearance on the February 8 edition of TV3’s weekend news analysis programme, The Key Points, Okudzeto Ablakwa said: “I challenge the Honorable Afenyo-Markin to prove when, during the vetting, I said that I earned only GHC15,000. Did you hear me say that?”
It is worth noting that the MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markins, has not responded to the challenge from his colleague, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Verdict
Therefore, the claim that Ablakwa said he earns 15,000 cedis as an MP is false.
