Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has cautioned government against any attempt to purchase the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Presidential Jet on sale by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
In a Facebook post, Mr Ablakwa noted that government may be inclined to negotiate the purchase of the presidential jet being sold at $130 million due to President Akufo-Addo’s desire to attend his foreign trips in extravagant aircraft.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Presidential Jet “has all the features President Akufo-Addo craves in an aircraft.”
He also noted that the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, indicated that the government is considering acquiring a bigger aircraft for presidential travels in September last year.
Mr Ablakwa, therefore, believes government is likely to buy the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
In view of this, the North Tongu MP has urged Ghanaians to call on government to desist from engaging the Mexican government over the purchase of its presidential jet because they would bear the brunt financially.
He said Ghanaians should “strongly caution President Akufo-Addo not to entertain any thought of approaching the Mexicans to buy their Presidential Jet considering that his government had earlier announced and defended plans to buy a new so-called “fit for purpose” presidential jet, and particularly seeing that the Mexican configuration is similar to what he has become addicted to in his infamous “sky bath” charters.”
Mr Ablakwa also told Ghanaians to ensure Parliament serves notice that any such Ghana-Mexico Presidential Jet Purchase Agreement will not be ratified.
Rather than entertain thoughts of purchasing the Mexican presidential jet, Mr Ablakwa has urged President Akufo-Addo to emulate President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who insists on flying commercial, consistent with his policies of austerity and modest leadership; therefore, his decision to sell the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Presidential Jet bought at $218 million by his predecessor.
Meanwhile, the North Tongu MP has advised the Mexican government not to entertain any bid from Ghana.
According to him, such a negotiation cannot take place because Ghana is an unlikely candidate to meet the financial terms because of its “mismanaged economy.”
