Director of Communications at the Jubilee House has responded to remarks about President Akufo-alleged Addo’s demotion of the Presidential jet.
Eugene Arhin becomes perplexed by what he perceives to be Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a North Tongu legislator, scrutinising the president’s international travels with excessive passion and enthusiasm.
He maintains that the most recent letters from the MP, which accuse the president of wasteful spending by taking a private flight to the same place as the jet’s present location in France, are untrue.
In a social media post, Mr. Arhin refuted the allegations by stating that the Presidential jet was in the European nation for maintenance.
On Wednesday, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament questioned why, despite statements to the contrary, Ghana’s presidential plane was used to make a nonstop flight of more than six hours from Ghana to France.
Samuel Okdzeto Ablakwa claims that the flight took place days before President Akufo-trip Addo’s to the Netherlands and France.
“Why did government not pursue judiciousness and frugality by harmonizing 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?” he quizzed.
But Eugene Arhin says “the only persons who flew the jet to France are the crew made up of pilots from the Ghana Air Force.”
“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,” the Communications Director said on Facebook.
Against this backdrop, Mr Arhin wondered how the MP expects the President to embark on his trips aboard the aircraft which is being repaired.
He subsequently called on Mr Ablakwa to “minimize his penchant for engaging in propaganda regarding the Presidential Jet, to avoid further embarrassments to his person.”