In the ongoing national conversation on presidential jet use, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has strongly defended his long-standing stance on government accountability and the protection of public resources.
He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to parliamentary oversight, particularly in scrutinizing presidential travels, and insisted that his position has always been motivated by national interest rather than political convenience.
According to him, his record as Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs remains one of his proudest accomplishments. Ablakwa described his actions as rooted in patriotism and said his dedication to “God and Country” has never wavered.
He drew a sharp contrast between his conduct and that of former President Akufo-Addo during his parliamentary years.
“ I am quite certain former President Akufo-Addo is also proud of the forceful arguments he made in Parliament as Ranking Member, specifically on 15th February, 2000, opposing plans by President Rawlings to purchase a new executive jet primarily on the basis that it wasn’t a priority.
“Ironically, his misguided hirelings and minions vilifying me conveniently conceal former President Akufo-Addo’s documented track record.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Citing the parliamentary Hansard, Ablakwa pointed out that the arguments of the time emphasized “prioritization, prudence, value for money and transparency.”
He questioned why those principles appeared to have been abandoned when Akufo-Addo later became President. “Why is Akufo-Addo’s conduct in 2000 commendable but my conduct between 2021 and 2024 condemnable?”
Ablakwa insisted that his actions mirrored the same principles Akufo-Addo once championed.
Ablakwa Justifies Actions
The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized that he had no regrets about leading what he called a successful national campaign against what he described as the “unjustified, wasteful, and extremely reckless ostentatious charter of ultra-luxury jets for US$18,000 an hour.”
He explained that this crusade was especially important because Ghana’s presidential jet, acquired in 2008 under President Kufuor, was still in pristine condition and fully operational.
He maintained that his motivation was always the public interest, a commitment to transparency, and the need to protect the Ghanaian taxpayer.
According to him, attempts to vilify his actions were both misleading and misplaced. He insisted that he owed no apology for his oversight role, declaring that many Ghanaians recognized his efforts as a patriotic duty.
Ablakwa noted that it was ironic that his critics, who often demanded his resignation, were the same individuals attempting to replicate his work but without the same credibility or results.
He said he had received numerous appeals from citizens urging him to organize workshops for these “wannabes,” a request he considered evidence of his vindication.
He further stated that his position was ultimately validated when former President Akufo-Addo abandoned the practice of chartering luxury jets in the latter part of his presidency.
For more than 18 months before leaving office, Akufo-Addo relied exclusively on Ghana’s official jet. Ablakwa argued that this change of behavior confirmed his position that the jet was fit for purpose, despite claims to the contrary.
Questioning Akufo-Addo’s Legacy On Presidential Jet Use
The Minister went on to explain that when he filed parliamentary questions in 2021 regarding the status of Ghana’s presidential jet, both the then-Ministers of Defence and National Security confirmed that the aircraft was in good condition and airworthy.
The only objection raised was a personal inconvenience — that the President could not shower onboard. Ablakwa described this as a flimsy excuse, especially when other African leaders were willing to use Ghana’s aircraft for official travel.
He dismissed what he called false attempts to equate helicopters with jets, noting that such arguments were desperate and misleading.
He accused his critics of insulting the intelligence of Ghanaians by trying to whitewash what he termed Akufo-Addo’s profligate behavior.
“If the Akufo-Addo administration had listened to some of us much earlier on matters such as this profligate chartered jet travels which cost taxpayers over GHS120million, the US$97million wasted on the cathedral pit, the many inflated single sourced contracts and the numerous state capture scandals, Ghana could have avoided bankruptcy and the painful financial haircuts we had to suffer.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
He also pointed out that leaders of other nations, even those facing economic strain, maintained strict policies on the use of state aircraft.
In many cases, presidents were required to reimburse taxpayers if they used official jets for non-state or campaign purposes. For Ablakwa, Ghana should never have been an exception.
In conclusion, Ablakwa underscored that his oversight role was carried out in good conscience and that it represented one of his most important contributions to Ghana’s democratic journey.
He insisted that he would always remain proud of his stand against the misuse of the presidential jet and other public resources, stressing that truth, frugality, and national interest should guide future administrations.
He declared that President Mahama’s government would continue to uphold principles of modesty and accountability while working to “reset Ghana with truth, modesty, frugality, and deep respect for the Ghanaian people.”
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