The Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that the minority will not endorse the purchase of a new presidential aircraft.
According to him, the minority will reject the proposal when it’s brought before parliament and resist any attempts by government to purchase a bigger presidential jet for the country.
Mr Ablakwa explained that there hasn’t been enough transparency on the reasons why government would want to push for a new presidential aircraft.
“The Akufo-Addo administration will not get the support of the NDC in purchasing a new aircraft. We are not convinced that there is anything wrong with the current jet.
“The President and his ministers have not been transparent and accountable enough. This whole business of leading aircraft is borne out of an insatiable appetite for luxury. We are not going to endorse, collaborate and support anything that only seeks to advance the president’s insatiable appetite”.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament also revealed that he is seeking to file another question on the cost of President Akufo-Addo’s recent trip to the US.
He explained that he will follow through with his intention once parliament reconvenes from recess.
“The challenge now is that the house is on recess. The house will have to resume before the Speaker can admit the questions. There are a number of questions I am pursuing. There are new questions for the National Security Minister on the President’s recent trip to the US”.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Government announces purchase of a new presidential aircraft
Addressing the media on Monday, September 27, 2021, Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, announced plans by government to purchase a new presidential jet to cater for presidential travels.
Mr Arhin emphasized that the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, has already begun the processes for Ghana to procure the new jet although he didn’t want to “go into the details”.
He however expressed optimism that when the “Minister gets the opportunity” he will give further information on what the “government is doing in that respect”.
“You would recollect that when the government of President Kufuor left office in 2008, it had procured two jets, the current Falcon and a bigger one. But for one reason or the other, the bigger jet was cancelled, and we were left with just one. That has happened, but you will recall that the defence minister stated clearly that the government has decided to buy a bigger jet to save us from all these troubles.
“I am sure of the fact that government is already in the process of getting a bigger jet for use”.
Mr Eugene Arhin
President Akufo-Addo, over the period has been criticised and accused of being wasteful with taxpayers’ money by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The government had however explained that the current presidential jet was not convenient for long-hour trips, reason being that the jet does not more numbers and has limited facilities for the comfort of a president.
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