I Never Assaulted Sam George – Ayorkor Botwey

By Justice Dzido On Dec 18, 2018

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botwey has reacted to a video circulating on Social Media which creates the impression that she attempted to assault the MP for Ningo Prampram Hon Sam George.

Her denial comes over Minority allegation against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the cost of two properties seeking to purchase in Oslo Norway for Ghana’s Mission in that country which the minority accused the ministry of inflating the price.

The heated brawl between the two lawmakers was as a result of Mr Ablakwa’s accusation alleging government had inflated the cost ($12 million) of a six-bedroom residence for Ghana’s new mission in Norway.

The encounter took place within the corridors of the house in the presence of the media after the Speaker had suspended sitting. According to the Minority side, the property has been inflated by $8 million.

A document in possession of the Minority revealed that a previous buyer, Lillian Olsson, bought the property in 2014 for $2 million and sold it in 2017 to an unknown buyer for $3 million.

However addressing the Media at a press conference at Parliament House , Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botwey said, she never assaulted Hon Sam George.

Rather, the Minster said she saw Hon Sam George recording a conversation she was having with Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa MP for North Tongu on the allegation made by the Minority against the Ministry, and therefore walked towards Hon Sam George to tell him to stop recording the conversation.

“As we were having that heated conversation, Sam George had his phone up and recording it, that is a violation of my privacy, that is not acceptable. Why is everybody talking about my stretching my hand? To do what? To hit him? To assault him? Why would I do that?” – she explained.

According to her, she was questioning why Mr Nartey was recording what ensued and added that she raised her arm as “a gesture but it definitely was not an attempt to assault him (Mr Nartey) or to slap him”.