Minority not against purchase of aircrafts for GAF-Former Minister

Minority in parliament says that they are not against the purchase of aircrafts for the Ghana Armed Forces, but the cost involved is too high.

Ranking member on Committee for Defense William Ofori Boafo says the $250 million loan facility approved for the purchase of five jets is too high.

The former Deputy Defense Minister under the Kufuor-led administration said a country with virtually collapsed economy as Ghana, cannot buy five aircrafts while key developmental projects have been left hanging.

William Ofori Boafo told Adakabre Frimpong Manso on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM Thursday that the amount involved in the purchasing, should be reviewed downwards while part of it used for the completion of some projects which have been left hanging.

Parliament yesterday approved a loan facility of $250 million for the purchase of five aircrafts for the Ghana Armed Forces.

There was a heated debate between the majority and minority over the approval of the loan facility with minority arguing that their checks on the internet revealed that the jets could be purchased at a lower price than what the majority has quoted.

Members on the majority however insisted the aircrafts are worth the $250 million quotation.

The Ranking member who is also the MP for Akropong in the Eastern region said the “Better Ghana Agenda” promised by the NDC has now become “Bitter Ghana Agenda” as the “I care for you” slogan is now “I curse you”.

Lawyer Boafo noted that the protest of the minority is to let Ghanaians know how insensitive the ruling NDC government is and vote against them in the 2012 elections.

In sharp contrast, the Chairman for select committee on Defense and Interior, Alfred Agbesi argued that the Finance Minister had indicated that the current economy is buoyant and can afford the purchasing of the five aircrafts.

Alfred Agbesi admitted that in 2008 the NDC then in opposition raised an issue that the timing for the purchase of two presidential jets at a cost of $105 was wrong because the economy was not strong to support the purchase.

According to him, now the Ministry of Finance has indicated that the economy can afford it and that is what is happening.

Host of Dwaso Nsem, Adakabre Frimpong Manso cited the Achimota–Ofankor  and the Nsawam-Suhum stretch  road projects that have stalled due to what the government says lack of funding for their completion, Mr. Agbesi said the Achimota-Ofankor road project has not been abandoned but the military needs to be well equipped.

‘The issue is that the illiterates do they need this example, you can’t say because we are building a hospital at so, so and so, so the military should be grounded. Achimota-Ofankor road has not been abandoned it is going on at the same time, the military need to be well equipped’ Mr. Agbesi argued.

Mr. Alfred Agbesi who is also the MP for Ashaiman in the Greater Accra region added that ‘if your house needs water, because you say there is no water, you need water so you stop everything in your house and go in for water, is that what you are saying happens in life?”

‘The argument that the NDC opposed to it in 2008 and for that matter the NPP should opposed in 2011, is a defeated argument and this cannot be allowed. Are we opposing that the NDC opposed it so we too are opposing, because you could not do it in your time so the NDC cannot do it?” Alfred Agbesi inquired.

Story: Akuamoah Boateng/Adom News/Ghana