Minority Won’t Support Purchase Of Second Jet For Presidency

The Minority in Parliament will not support the Akufo-Addo government’s bid to buy a second jet for the Presidency, hints the Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu.

 “What is this that we hear that because the President cannot bath in the current Falcon, he must buy a new jet, and then we should be interested in providing for the comfort of the President when Ghanaians are reeling under economic hardship?” he asked on Accra based Citi TV.

This comes after the Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, announced that the government has begun processes to purchase a bigger jet for the Presidency.

“Government is already in the process of acquiring a bigger jet for use,” he said at a press briefing at the Jubilee House on Monday.

Eugene Arhin’s announcement which has angered the country was in response to concerns that have been raised about the President’s abandonment of the presidential jet in favor of expensive private courier service that has so far cost the country over a Ghc10million, according to North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul who has justified the president’s taste for the private jet has among other things said that the trashing of the existing presidential jet is because it is too small and also does not have bathing facilities onboard for President Akufo Addo.

The Minority leader has made it clear that purchase will not be supported by the Minority.

 “This is a misplaced priority, it is a misplaced expenditure and, therefore, should not get our support”, the MP said.

He was emphatic that his side of the aisle will do everything possible to ensure that the plan does not see that light of day especially when the government is yet to disclose the cost of the President’s previous foreign trips.

“No one has said the President should not engage in travels, but let us know what is wrong with the present Ghanaian Presidential jet that we have to go in for a luxurious comfortable jet at the expense of the people. But we do not fight battles standing solo,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.

“We don’t believe in that posture. So what is important is that the caucus will meet as a matter of necessity”, he insisted.