The Director of communications at the Office of the President Eugene Arhin has said the presidential jet is currently in France for “major repair works”, denying claims that it is currently being used by private persons.
“Who used the presidential jet to France and what is the purpose of the trip? Why did government not pursue judiciousness and frugality by harmonising both travels to save taxpayer funds, particularly in this period of IMF bailout economic crisis, especially considering that the presidential jet flew to the same enclave within the same week of the President’s travel?” the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, asked in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Responding to the opposition lawmaker, Arhin said: “Indeed, the presidential jet departed Ghana on 30 August to France for major repair works to be carried out on it – repair works which are very much long overdue. The Air Force has indicated that the Presidential Jet will be out of service for a total of four (4) months, and will return to Ghana and be available for use in December.”
Below is the full Facebook post on Thursday (8 September):
My attention has been drawn to a Facebook post made by Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding the use of the presidential jet, and my responses are as follows:
1. Contrary to the insinuations being cast by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, no one “used the Presidential Jet to France”, and no one is using the Presidential Jet in France. The only persons who flew the jet to France are the crew made up of pilots from the Ghana Air Force.
2. Indeed, the Presidential Jet departed Ghana on 30th August to France for major repair works to be carried out on it – repair works which are very much long overdue. The Air Force has indicated that the Presidential Jet will be out of service for a total of four (4) months, and will return to Ghana and be available for use in December. It will be recalled that in May this year, the Minister for Defence, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, alerted Ghanaians to the fact that the Presidential Jet would be flown to France for major repair works to be undertaken on it. (https://www.myjoyonline.com/presidential-jet-to-undergo…/)
3. In view of this, how Hon. Ablakwa expects President Akufo-Addo to return to Ghana on Saturday, 10th September, from his current trip to the Netherlands and France on board the Presidential Jet, which is undergoing major repair works and is scheduled to return to Ghana in December, beats my imagination.
4. I would urge Hon. Ablakwa to minimize his penchant for engaging in propaganda regarding the Presidential Jet, to avoid further embarrassments to his person.