Ablakwa Responds to Johnnie Hughes’s Apology over Alleged ‘Fake’ GNPC Scholarship List

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has issued a response to the apology extended by Johnnie Beresford Hughes following claims that the legislator had benefitted from government scholarships.

In a tweet on April 14, 2024, Ablakwa stated: “This apology is duly acknowledged. I have not, and shall never apply for or benefit from government scholarships.”

Johnnie Hughes, a broadcast journalist with Media General, had offered apologies to certain individuals whose names appeared on a document he shared via social media, alleging that they were beneficiaries of a GNPC Foundation Foreign Scholarship Scheme.

Amidst the controversy surrounding scholarship allocations by the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, particularly to individuals with affiliations to the government and New Patriotic Party, Johnnie Hughes shared a photo on Saturday, April 13, 2024, which listed the names of some prominent members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as recipients of the GNPC Foundation Foreign Scholarship Scheme.

Among the names listed were Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, John Jinapor, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, and Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

The publication by the journalist via his social media page elicited denials from all the aforementioned individuals, with Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa hinting at the possibility of legal action.

Subsequently, Johnnie Hughes issued an apology to the individuals named on the list, clarifying that he did not intend to accuse anyone of wrongdoing by sharing the document.

“Friends, let me first of all state that my post with the caption “Odaseni” is without malice or ill intention.

“Perhaps, I should have added a few more words to the caption, “Odaseni”, or maybe posed the question I had in my mind when I decided to make a post on what is now clear to a section of the public, as a calculated form of equalisation for The 4th Estate’s ‘SCHOLARSHIP BONANZA’.

“Since I was hesitant in doing same, and also for the fact that my post has been given many different interpretations and connotations for various reasons (including political), I owe it a duty to sincerely apologise to all persons who feel slighted by my post.

“Within the hour, I have given the same weight of prominence to the rejoinders of Hons. Ablakwa, Jinapor and Mogtari on the same post and have accordingly shared their respective posts while awaiting GNPC’s official response.

“Unfortunately, I am unable to share my source as a Journalist and I take full responsibility for what I posted. Thank you,” he posted on social media.