The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that the incumbent government continues to evade accountability pertaining to President Akufo-Addo's foreign travels.
In a Facebook post after the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah appeared before the House on Friday, he wrote, "seven months of grand government evasiveness and conspiracy to conceal."
Mr. Ablakwa, was making reference to the fact that Mr. Kan-Dapaah, who was expected to answer questions filed by him (Ablakwa) regarding the cost of the President's foreign travels, did not do so.
For Mr Ablakwa, this is a "despicable disregard for democratic accountability," since "he (Kan-Dapaah) refused to disclose the cost, hiding behind national security fears."
The North Tongu MP stated that this evasive attitude exhibited by the government simply shows how the "Akufo-Addo administration is embarrassingly allergic to accountability" but however "loves the unbridled imposition of draconian taxes, including the obnoxious E-Levy, apparently to satisfy its obscene creature comforts."
Since it was reported that President Akufo-Addo has not been using the presidential jet for his foreign travels, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has insisted that government has failed to protect the public purse as promised.
He alleges that it costs the tax payer US$14,000.00 an hour every time the President charters the ultra-luxury jets. Again, he holds the assertion that President Akufo-Addo has monopolised the blue and white luxury LX-DIO private jet.
It was for this reason that Mr. Ablakwa in June, filed a question on the full cost of President Akufo-Addo’s travel by chartered luxury aircraft in May to France, Belgium and South Africa at taxpayers’ expense.
The MP has argued that this is unacceptable, particularly at a time government has urged citizens to bring their quota to ensure the economy recovers from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Who would have imagined that the man who promised to protect the public purse now seeks refuge in national security as the public purse remains under unmitigated assault. How tragic!" Mr. Ablakwa bemoaned in his recent post.
Meanwhile, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has stated unequivocally that his quest for accountability from the government will not end, despite the reasons provided.
"This shall not be the end of the road in our quest for full accountability as is our constitutional right, and particularly as President Akufo-Addo obstinately continues to charter ultra-luxury jets at US$14,000.00 an hour when Ghana has a Presidential Jet in pristine condition."
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