Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has intimated that North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is speaking out of inexperience in relation to his allegations of the President’s use of luxurious jets.
Speaking on matters of corruption in the country, the MP said Okudzeto’s claims that President Akufo-Addo hired another luxurious aircraft on his recent foreign trips to the UK and Germany are unsubstantiated.
“It is important one equips himself with information before coming out with such information in the media just to make noise. The noise is getting too much.
“This is what happens when you leave the classroom and start out in Parliament with no experience”.
Andy Appiah-Kubi
However, the NDC legislation alleges that every trip on the hired jet costs the state £14,000 per hour and a cumulative ¢3.46 million.
Reacting to this allegation, Mr. Appiah-Kubi said the legislator has no evidence to back his claims and urged the public to treat it as frivolous. He then asserted Okudzeto has been hailed for far too long for doing the wrong thing.
“If you do the wrong thing continuously, that will never change you. Prepare yourself and enter Parliament with some experience so you don’t make some trivial mistakes.
“Okudzeto is making noise without any concrete evidence;and would have known better if he didn’t come to Parliament right from school. He should bring the invoice that proves the alleged ¢3.46 million cost of the President’s travels”.
Andy Appiah-Kubi
However, earlier in the year, Okudzeto Ablakwa stirred controversy when he alleged that President Akufo-Addo hired a private jet at the cost of ¢2.8 million on his travels to France, Belgium and South Africa at the expense of tax-burdened Ghanaians.
Corruption is thriving
Also speaking, the Founder of the United Progressive Party (UPP),;Akwasi Addai Odike,;said corruption under the President Akufo-Addo led administration is thriving because the President doesn’t know how to combat the menace.
He further suggested that the old approach of fighting corruption must change and focus on preventive measures. According to him, both the NDC and NPP have led Ghana since 1992 but both have failed to take concrete steps against corruption.
“They have both focused on going after perpetrators rather than taking preventive steps, which is building strong institutions to mitigate the menace. The NPP and NDC since 1992 have only made corruption allegations against each other but don’t understand the real issues on how to tackle corruption.”
Akwasi Addai Odike
President clueless on corruption mitigation systems
Mr. Odike further indicated President Akufo-Addo has no idea on the systems to create to mitigate corruption.
“He doesn’t understand it, and only believes resourcing anti-corruption institutions is the way forward to conquer corruption”.
Akwasi Addai Odike
Mr. Odike also alleged that although there are systems in place to fight corruption, they are not being implemented, as these systems have been rigged to favor the President and his cohorts. He added that the constitution of Ghana is flawed and actually protects and makes sure every President becomes corrupt.
“We have to review these portions of the constitution and take some power from the executive arm of government so citizens can hold them accountable. If that is not done, even the Pope will be corrupt if he becomes Ghana’s President”.
Akwasi Addai Odike
