The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin has responded to claims made by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa regarding the Presidential Jet, explaining that the aircraft is in France for repairs.
Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa who’s the ranking member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday asked why the presidential jet flew non-stop to France for a flight time of over 6 hours when government officials have claimed the jet cannot fly long haul.
He said the flight to France occurred a few days before President Akufo-Addo visited 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 asked.
However responding to Mr Ablakwa’s claims, Mr Eugene Arhin stated emphatically that “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. (https://www.myjoyonline.com/presidential-jet-to-undergo…/
