Five MPs Wants Parliamentary Probe Into Akufo-Addo’s Arabian King Style Travels

Five Minority MPs have filed a motion asking Parliament to probe President Akufo-Addo’s resort to expensive chartered flights for his foreign travels in spite of the availability of the Presidential jet.

The President has been completely dismissive of public anger and had adamantly kept chartering the expensive jetliner for his foreign travels.

Among others, the MPs want the legislative chamber to ascertain the cost implication of the chartered flights and also vet the justifications that the government has been making for the splurges including a US$14,000 an hour flight on Boeing jets.

The MPs are Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; Builsa North MP, James Agalga; MP for Korle Klottey, Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings; Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP, Dr. Ato Forson and MP for Ablekuma South Constituency, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije.

The motion fulfils a vow that MP for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, had made to raise the issue before Parliament upon the Legislature’s return from recess.

Mr. Akufo-Addo has been in the news for some time now, following his newly acquired taste for one of the world’s most expensive jetliners nd had basically dumped the presidential jet which is in good standing to make those trips.

Among other things, the government has justified the flights by saying that there are no bathrooms in the presidential jet.

Hon. Ablakwa had described the expensive travels as Arabian king style travel.

 “May I state for the record that despite government’s shenanigans and attempts at obfuscation, our comprehensive tracking system makes it impossible for the President’s profligate travels to escape our vigilance,” stated Ablakwa.

“This means that the good people of Ghana can be assured that when Parliament resumes, every one of these Arabian-king-style trips and every single minute of flight time plus every associated incidental cost at the taxpayer’s expense, shall be accounted for to the People’s Representatives.”

In May this year, Mr. Okudzeto stirred controversy when he alleged that the nation paid £15,000 an hour as the President opted for luxurious aircraft instead of using the Presidential jet on his travels to France, Belgium and South Africa.

The former Chief of Staff has suggested an alternative method that can be adopted to halt the extravagant lifestyle of leaders at the expense of taxpayers.

Kwadwo Mpiani, in an interview with JoyNews on Wednesday, noted that policies that will oblige Presidents to pay for their private foreign travels will protect the public purse.