Akufo-Addo’s trips: Hiding behind National Security will not wash again – Martin Kpebu
Private Legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu says the referral of the urgent question to the National Security Minister should not prevent parliament and the public from knowing the cost of Akufo-Addo’s private jet trips.
Speaking on Joy FM’s ‘NewsFile’, Martin Kpebu said the days where at the mention of national security people shy aware from demanding accountability is far gone.
He explained that the question does not entail the security arrangements for the travel but the cost of the travel which has nothing to do with endangering the security of the president and the peace of the country.
“We just need to know how much was spent and not the security details. Saying the National Security Minister should respond to the question does not end the matter at all.”
He also advised that the media should be allowed in the House during the answering of the question for them to be able to report back to the general public.
Meanwhile, MP for Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said no matter how elaborate the machinations and thick the conspiracy, Akufo-Addo’s private jet trip question will be answered.
The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, this week told Parliament that the best institution to furnish the House with details on the cost of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s recent official travels outside the country is the Office of the National Security.
He said due to national security implications, the air travel for the President, including the cost for the advance team, flight arrangements, security, accommodation, and air tickets, were coordinated operationally between the Office of Government Machinery and the National Security Secretariat.
He said in line with the 2021 budget implementation instructions, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) did not release any funds to the Chief of Staff specifically for the President’s trip to France, Belgium and South Africa.
“Mr Speaker, the President’s domestic and international travels are matters to do with National Security. The National Security Minister is best placed to furnish this Honourable House with the details needed.”
The minister was responding to an urgent question filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Mr Ablakwa sought to know if the transaction did not go through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which is under the control of the Finance Minister, and which puts the minister in a position to know the cost of travels by the President.
But in a Facebook post, Okudzeto said “No Surrender; No Retreat; This question will be answered no matter how elaborate the machinations and no matter how thick the conspiracy.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also filed another urgent question under Order 64 of Parliament’s Standing Orders for the National Security Minister to appear before the House to give details on the May travel expenditure of President Akufo-Addo.
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