Ablakwa drags Ofori-Atta to Parliament to account for Akufo-Addo’s recent trips

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has dragged the Minister of Finance to Parliament to account for the cost of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s recent trips to France, Belgium, and South Africa.

According to a publication from Parliament, the question has been programmed to be answered, but the specific day for the response has not been scheduled yet.

The North Tongu MP has alleged that President Akufo-Addo chartered a luxurious private jet for the said trips.

In relation to the same issue, he has also dragged the Minister of Defence to the floor of the house to give further clarity as to the state of the Presidential jet (Dassault Falcon).

The publication said, “Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu): To ask the Minister for Finance how much the President’s recent official travels to France, Belgium, and South Africa in May this year cost the Ghanaian taxpayer.”

The North Tongu lawmaker claims President Akufo-Addo has spent an amount of GHS 2.8 million on his recent travels to only South Africa and France using the services of a private jet.

“The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT, is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as “the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets.” It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately £15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it”, the legislator alleged in a post on Facebook.
He accused the President of blowing the money “to satisfy his insatiable appetite and comfort at the expense of the suffering masses”.

“Let’s further analyse President Akufo-Addo’s latest trip to Europe: per Flightradar24, the G-KELT aircraft left Accra with the President to Paris on the 16th of May — a 6 and half hour duration. Airlifted the President from Paris to Johannesburg for 11 hours on the 23rd of May.”

“Then Johannesburg to Accra on the 25th of May was a five and half hour flight. This gives us accumulated flight travel of 23 hours; so at £15,000 an hour, it thus cost us a colossal £345,000. At the current exchange rate, that is a staggering GHS2,828,432.80”, he posted.