The Minority’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Okudzeto has expressed disappointment in the response to his question over the ”luxurious travels” by President Akufo-Addo.
The Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, appeared before Parliament to answer questions over what the MP for North Tongu MP had described as luxurious.
The Minister argued that the safety of the President must be the deciding factor for the type of aircraft used for his trips.
Appearing before parliament to respond to questions asked him over the recent travels embarked on by the President, he said the challenges with the current Presidential jet makes it not fit for purpose.
“This aircraft will carry a load of 11 persons minus the crew. When this aircraft is traveling to the eastern part of the USA or Asia, it will not load a crew of more than eight plus the luggage. So it depends on where it is going. Secondly, I have also said the aircraft has to do refueling stops, and also in this COVID-19, when you are traveling to multiple destinations like the president’s recent travel, the Falcon couldn’t have been taken because he would have had to do technical stops which are not desirable, and when he is traveling with more than 20 people like he has been doing for business trips that brought huge sums of money for this country, he will need more than just a Falcon, otherwise, the others would have to go a day ahead before the President to prepare themselves.”
“In fact, the president would also have to go a day ahead because no President can shower in this aircraft. He cannot move from this aircraft straight into a meeting.”
But reacting in a series of Facebook posts, the MP said Ghana is doomed if the Minister is not worried about the cost of the aircraft.
How on Earth can the Defence Minister tell Parliament cost doesn’t matter in considering which aircraft to charter for the President! We are really doomed!!!
After listening to Hon. Nitiwul respond to my question in Parliament earlier today, we now know at the very least that the Presidential Jet is in great condition and was available for President Akufo-Addo’s trip to France, Belgium and South Africa except that it wasn’t luxurious enough compared to the £15,000 an hour Airbus ACJ320neo,” he stated.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com