Government Spokesperson and Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has refuted claims by some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the government intends to spend $1 billion on the purchase of a presidential jet.
Addressing the issue, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the claims made by Hon. Abu Jinapor and other NPP communicators are “patently false” and a deliberate misrepresentation of figures contained in the national budget.
He explained that the projected expenditure relates to urgent procurement requests from the Ghana Armed Forces, which include new aircraft, helicopters, naval vessels, and armored vehicles needed to improve national security operations.
According to him, the Ghana Army has submitted requests for four Eurocopter helicopters, two aircraft; one medium-range and one long-range, and two or three patrol vessels to strengthen surveillance along Ghana’s territorial waters. The military also requires 19 armored personnel carriers (APCs).
“The Ghana Army needs tools to work with, and so the Army or the Armed Forces itself has been making these requisitions. They say, among others, that immediately they need four helicopters, together we call them Eurocopters because they are manufactured somewhere. They need two aircraft, a medium-range one and a long-range one; they need two or three large vessels to patrol our territorial waters. They need armored personnel carriers.” He said.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu further revealed that the previous NPP administration had already entered into a contract with an Israeli company to supply the APCs at a total cost of $18 million, out of which $14 million had already been paid. The company, he said, has insisted that the outstanding amount must be fully settled before delivery.
“In fact, the NPP had entered into a deal with an Israeli company to procure 19 of them at a total cost of $18 million. They had paid $14 million, but the company is insisting that they cannot refund the $14 million if we don’t pay the outstanding $14 million, and they will not supply the equipment until we have paid, because that is a contract that the NPP signed with them. So it makes sense to add the $14 million to it to acquire the 19 armored personnel carriers and then the boats.”
He noted that combining the outstanding payment for the APCs with the cost of the helicopters, aircraft, and naval vessels would bring the total military procurement to about $310 million, far below the $1 billion figure being circulated.
“I can tell you for free, because I’ve been reviewing the documents, and when the minister comes to parliament it will become apparent. If you put the armored personnel carriers, the $14 million that is outstanding, together with the two aircraft; one medium, one long-range and the four helicopters, it will come roughly somewhere around $310 million.” He said.
He stressed that none of these procurements relate to a presidential jet, adding that the NPP’s claims were intended to mislead the public.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the government remains committed to equipping the military and ensuring transparency in all security-related expenditures.
“So the claim by HonorableAbu Jinapor and his colleagues in the NPP that we are spending $1 billion to buy presidential jets is patently false. He saw it in the budget and deliberately decided to misrepresent it.” He said
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
