Former National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay, is demanding retraction and an apology from North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Management of TV3, and Johnnie Hughes over what he calls baseless and unfounded allegations levelled against him and his family.
He has since issued them a one-week ultimatum to react, or he will sue them for defamation.
Mr. Blay has expressed his outrage over accusations of his family’s involvement in state capture.
He indicated that his children legitimately acquired some portions of the beachfront from the LA Council, and their property does not belong to the management of the Labadi Beach Hotel.
He accused the North Tongu MP of engaging in cheap propaganda aimed at courting public opprobrium against his sons.
The MP had alleged that there is a grand scheme of state capture being perpetuated by top NPP officials.
He also accused the former National Chairman of the NPP, Mr. Freddie Blay, and his sons of acquiring interest in portions of the beachfront, which has always been under the management of the Labadi Beach Hotel.
He claimed that the Labadi Beach Hotel has become the only beachfront hotel in the world that does not have exclusive control over its entire beachfront due to the purchase.
But Mr. Blay described the claims as false, saying there were initial talks between his sons and the management of the beach, but negotiations broke down.
The situation he lamented resulted in his sons officially engaging the La Traditional Council to acquire the beachfront for their 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,” Mr Blay told Oyerepa FM.
“Impression being made by Okudzeto Ablakwa and unfortunately by some pressmen by Johnnie Hughes and tv3 management making Ghanaians know that those doing legitimate business without stepping on anybody’s shoes is an illegality, is unfortunate.”
“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 the TV3 management including Jonnie Hughes one week to render an apology to me and my family or I go to court”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
