NPP Director of Communications Dennis Miracles Aboagye has questioned Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over his continued stay in government despite previously pledging to resign if a government he served hired or used a private jet.
Aboagye said Ablakwa’s earlier public position on private jet travel had set a standard against which his actions as a minister should now be judged.
He argued that Ghanaians were justified in questioning the minister over the use of chartered aircraft during the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa, particularly given his past criticism of similar arrangements.
“You said that if your government comes to office, if you’re a minister in a government that hires a private jet or uses a private jet to travel, you resign,” Aboagye stated.
He questioned why the minister had not followed through on that pledge after joining the government.
“So, if people vote for your government and you become a cabinet minister and all of a sudden your government is moving around the world with private jets and you haven’t resigned, they have no right to call you out?” he asked.
The NPP communicator dismissed suggestions that the criticism was simply aimed at attacking Ablakwa, insisting that public officials should be held accountable for positions they expressed before taking office.
Aboagye also recalled the minister’s previous comments about the cost of keeping presidential aircraft on the tarmac during international trips. He argued that the same level of scrutiny should be applied to the expenditure on the South Africa evacuation.
He said the NPP was seeking answers over the reported spending and claimed that approximately GH¢16.1 million remained unaccounted for, with about GH¢14 million of the amount associated with the chartered flights.
When asked whether the outstanding amount was GH¢16.1 million, Aboagye confirmed the figure.
“16.1 million has not been accounted for. Yes,” he said.
His comments add to the political debate surrounding the evacuation exercise, with questions being raised over the use of chartered aircraft, the cost involved and the accountability of public funds. The figure cited by Aboagye remains his claim and would require clarification from the relevant authorities.
