Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the Foreign Affairs Minister-nominee Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team of conducting a highly intrusive and politically motivated operation by employing drones to monitor his private properties.
The Effutu lawmaker said on Sunday, February 2, 2025, on JoyNews’ The Probe that he had been warned by his colleagues on several occasions about mysterious drones hovering over his homes and properties, but he had remained silent up until this point.
Afenyo-Markin maintains that the drone surveillance is an effort to fabricate stories about his properties and that all of his assets were lawfully obtained.
“I was aware that these ORAL guys have been flying drones in Winneba over my property. I kept quiet. I managed it. They went to my beachfront property, mounted a drone, and flew it from the community center near the ‘nshorna.’ My boy saw it. I told them to ignore it,” he stated.
He further claimed that the drone operations targeted his home in Abelemkpe and other properties in addition to Winneba.
“In Abelemkpe, you’ll be there in the morning, and you’ll see drones flying. The policemen have seen it. They told me, but I said ignore it. Sometimes, early in the morning, we see drones behind the rail line, and I know they are spying on my house. What business do drones have at the majority leader’s residence?” he questioned.
Days after Ablakwa disclosed information about his properties at his vetting session on Friday, January 31, Afenyo-Markin made these remarks.
The majority leader made a claim that he had previously discussed the matter with Ablakwa in private.
“Before his vetting, ask Ablakwa whether we didn’t sit as brothers. I said, ‘Sammy, there were things that you went overboard. I think if you make concessions, we’ll be fine.” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said.
He asserts that Ablakwa’s ORAL team persisted in their surveillance efforts against him in spite of their talk.
Additionally, Afenyo-Markin denied that several of his Winneba properties belonged to the state, describing such claims as “a complete misrepresentation.”
“The gentleman brought a search report and created the impression that my lands in Winneba are state lands. With the greatest respect, they are not,” he emphasized.
Source: newsthemegh.com