Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has raised concerns about President John Mahama’s decision not to use the presidential flights for official international duties.
According to Mr Nitiwul, the jet is in good condition and should be utilised, rather than opting for alternatives such as commercial or private flights.
His remarks came during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, January 22, when a communication was read informing the house that President Mahama was traveling to the United Arab Emirates.
Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) questioned the mode of transport the President was using for the trip.
The Minister-designate for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, clarified that the President had used a commercial flight for his journey.
However, Dominic Nitiwul criticised the situation, calling it offensive that the presidential jet, which is reportedly in good condition, is being ignored.
“Anytime the President jet was not available, the communication squadron jet was not available for whatever reasons the [former] President always rented it [private jet] and used it. The difference today is that the current jet is serviceable. It can move. It is working. It is wrong for the President of the Republic to be going on commercial jets when the jet that Ghana use our money to pay for and buy is available and it’s working,” he said.
This comes in the wake of reactions about the use of the presidential jet, with some questioning why President Mahama sometimes opts to use his brother Ibrahim Mahama’s private jet for official international assignments.
But Mr Governs Agbodza would have none of that.
He questioned why former President Akufo-Addo ditched the presidential jet for a luxury private one under the guise of supposed servicing.
“So how come you didn’t put the former president, on the same flight? Immediately you left office, the jet has become serviceable. Very, very rich. The jet only became serviceable for a president when you left office? isn’t that telling you want him to take that jet? How? How come the [former] President never took that jet?
Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson also insisted that the President has in fact never rented a private jet since he was sworn in.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
