Month: June 2021

The Minority in Parliament has said they have been vindicated by answers provided by the Minister for Defence, Domenic Nitiwul that all along there was nothing wrong with the current Presidential jet and it was air worthy.

According to the Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who addressed the media just after the Defence Minister answered his urgent question, he noted that the president could have used the jet for his three nations tours to, France, Belgium and South Africa.

“Minority has proven today that there is nothing wrong with our Falcon Presidential jet, it is in good shape, the president could have used it on the 16^th of May, 2021 when he flew to France”.

He further told members of the Parliamentary Press corps; Parliament was told in 2008 that the technical team of the Defence Ministry that the aircraft would enable them carry ten to fifteen passengers and can cover over four thousand nautical miles to Asia, North America and Eastern Europe. And further pointed out that the sector minister was all over the place and could not convince MPs and for that matter Ghanaians why the presidential jet was not used to France.

On the issue of refueling, after eight hours as the Minister told the House, he noted that flying from Accra to France is six hours and from there the President could jet directly to Belgium and the only challenge would have been moving from France to South Africa which was eleven hours.

And with that, one needs to stop and refuel and added that during the time of President John Mahama and late Mills, when it was time for refueling, they stayed in the aircraft which did not take more than an hour to do.

“Minister said because of COVID, it would take two hour and the president should not be exposed out there and he needs to shower, this is not tenable with all due respect, it is a cock and bull story”.

Again, all of this arrangement was to satisfy the comfort of the president and added for the president to shower, Emirate could have provided these services in its first class, “why is it that a president who promised to protect the public purse doing this?”

Mr. Ablakwa further noted that since the finance minister would be on the floor of the House on Thursday, June 17, 2021 he was preparing the way for him by saying, when it comes to presidential travels cost does not matter.

 And backed his point saying, “Jesus Christ! even in the United State of America they are having a debate on a new Airforce, and cost is a number one factor. President Trump has had to reduce the original arrangement and the current President has continued it”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority in Parliament has registered their reservation in the way and manner the Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Asiamah Amoako restricted follow-up questions on the presidential jet to only two, one from the Minority and the other from the Majority.

At a press conference addressed by the Member of Parliament from North Tongu flank by his colleagues on Wednesday, right after asking an urgent question on the floor of the House, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa noted that when it came to questions relating to the follow-up on the Dassault Falcon-9G-EXE, follow ups were not allowed.

According to him with other questions the Second Deputy Speaker was liberal and allowed many follow-ups on other questions which were on the order paper. “Initially, we heard two, he came back to clarify that two but one from each side”.

“It is important that Parliament is not seen as aiding the Executive arm of Government to be evasive and hiding vital information from Ghanaians, we are the representatives of the people, is an urgent public interest matter and we are responsible for oversight”.

In addition, Parliament should be seen as ensuring that the public purse is being protected, he emphasized, indicating, “the posture and ruling of the second deputy speaker is aiding a cover-up and its worrying”.

He served notice that, the Minority want to place on record that moving forward they would not accept this kind of approach from the Second Deputy Speaker, “we hope he would not repeat this again, but for today he has been very firm and objective, you saw the strenuous effort to gag the Minority”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Parliament of Ghana has on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 given approval to a minister of state, and eleven deputy ministers, when Chairman of the Appointment Committee Joseph Osei-Owusu presented their report to plenary for approval.

President Nana Akufo-Addo submitted to Parliament, one (1) minister of state and thirty-nine (39) deputy ministers for considering and approval in accordance with Article 78 Clause 1 to 79 Clause 1.

The chairman of the committee indicated that, they advertised the nominations as the laws demand and used ten days to consider the first set made of twelve out of the 39 nominees which consist of:

1: Mr. Charles Kofi Asare Adu-Boahen        – Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.

2: Mr.  Bernito Owusu Bio                           – Deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources

3: Mr.  Augustine Collins Ntim – Deputy Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development

4: Mr.  Osei Bonsu Amoah                     – Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development

5: Mr.  William Owuraku Aidoo                  – Deputy for Energy

6: Mrs.  Abena Osei Asare                           – Deputy Minister for Finance

7: Mr.  Yaw Frimpong Addo                        – Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture

8: Mr.  Kwaku Asante Boateng                     – Deputy for Railways Development

9: Madam Ama Pomaa Boateng                    – Deputy Communications and digitalization

10: Mr.  Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong        – Deputy for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration

11: Hon Moses Anim                                – Deputy minister for fisheries and aqua culture development

12: Mrs. Nana Dokua   Asiamah Agyei    – Deputy for Trade and Industry

Chairman of the Committee urged the House to give its approval to the names of the nominees presented on the floor of the House, as their performance before the Committee was good and they also demonstrated their readiness to work for the betterment of Ghana.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul has stated that the VVIP or Presidential travel is not about aircraft type or cost, but it is all about the safety of the Aircraft crew and passengers.

And further added that, the President could not have traveled with Falcon Ex-Easy with registration number 9G-EXE particularly to long and multiple destinations such as France, Belgium, South Africa and back to Ghana especially during this covid era, indicating that such travels would always require a larger capacity aircraft such as a BBJ or Airbus ACJ 319 Neo even when the Falcon is even airworthy.

The Defence Minister made these remarks when he answered an urgent question filed by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in finding out whether the Presidential jet (Dassault Falcon-9G-EXE) is in good condition and considered air-worthy.

He further added that the Ghana Air Force for a longtime has asked for the re-equipping of the communication squadron to enable them perform their functions effectively.

The Minister stated that the current Falcon 900 Ex-Easy though serviceable lacks enough range to reach long destinations without refueling stops, and indicated that technically stopping at airports where the president does not intend to do a stopover could lead to unnecessary delays and placing a burden on an unintended host to offer diplomatic courtesies that they would not be ordinarily prepared for.

As refueling may take about two hours or more because passengers have disembarked for host country’s security to enter the aircraft. “In this era of COVID-19 and its associated protocols including distancing has further brought to bear the inadequacies of the current aircraft fleet”, he noted.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Ranking Member of Defence and Interior James Agalga has called on Government to act swiftly to address the current state of insecurity in the country.

He made this call on Tuesday, June 15,2021 at a press conference held in Parliament to address the unfortunate robbery incident which happened on Monday, June 14, 2021 leading to the death of one police officer escorting a bullion van and an innocent woman.

Mr. Agalga flanked by the Minority Chief Whip and his colleagues on the Committee from the Minority side further called on Bank of Ghana and Ghana Police Service to work together to find appropriate measures in addressing the issues of bullion van specifications.

 They gave the Inspector General of Police (IGP) two weeks ultimatum together with the various financial institutions to address this worrying crippling issue. They believe that, the Bank of Ghana’s 2023 date is too long and the two weeks ultimatum by the IGP also contradict the directive of Bank of Ghana.

The Ranking member was of the view that, the instructions from the IGP directing the Director General of CID to conduct an investigation into the robbery case does not demonstrate professionalism, and if he thinks the Director General of CID is not up to the task, he should be reshuffled.

And the continues attack on the men and women in uniform has demoralized them in the fight against crime. They believe smart concept of fighting crime is a new concept modern policing are adopting and further pointed out that smart policing produces citizen friendliness.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com