Chief Executive Officer of the Kufuor Foundation, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah has slammed the Akufo-Addo government’s announcement that it is buying an extra jet for the presidency as insensitive.
He told Accra-based Starr FM that the timing for the planned acquisition is rather inappropriate.
“Currently, I’m not aware of any serious situation that warrants the acquisition of a new jet. I think the Presidency should be sensitive to the people and if I was to advise the Presidency, I’ll say this is not the time to acquire a new jet,” he said.
“I think that the timing is not appropriate especially when we have so many things facing us as a nation. I’m also asking why at this point in time, the Presidency wants to acquire a new jet,” he added.
Akufo-Addo already has a Falcon 900 EX-Easy at his disposal. However, of late, the President has abandoned the plane that all his predecessors used without any qualm in favor of spending millions to rent expensive luxury planes for his journeys.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has especially been on the president’s case over his newfound taste for an LXIO jetliner which the President is estimated to have splurged some Ghc10million to rent for a few week’s trips around the world.
Government’s responses to Hon. Ablakwa’s concerns have varied from flat-out denial to the explanation that the Falcon does not have bathing facilities in it.
Ultimately, Jubilee House spokesman, Eugene Arhin announced the government’s decision to buy a brand new plane for the traveling pleasure of the president as a way to assuage growing public anger. But this has only elicited an angry blowback.
“This is the only country in the whole world that in the midst of a pandemic, we’re thinking about buying a presidential jet. In the middle of the pandemic that vaccines haven’t been adequately acquired to assure herd immunity, we’re thinking of a presidential jet,” sneers Okudzeto Ablakwa.
“The current jet is in good shape, there’s nothing wrong with it and just last week, the Liberian President used it twice. The current jet has a minimum lifespan of 20 years and we are nowhere near that. I‘m outraged. I’m livid, disappointed in President Akufo-Addo, and honestly, I’m at a point where it’s clear to me that the President is not committed to the needs of the people,” Ablakwa wrote.
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