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Hardships: Ghanaians can no longer finance the opulent lifestyle of Nana Addo - Sammy Gyamfi

Authors:

Kojo Emmanuel

Sammy Gyamfi, the Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has taken President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the cleaners after he [Nana Addo] was accused of ostentatious spending even as the country goes through economic hardship.

Nana Addo
Nana Addo

His reactions come after the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa criticised the President over what he described as "expensive" travels.

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He said Nana Addo has consistently abandoned the presidential aircraft which was used by three former Presidents.

According to him, John Agyekum Kufuor, John Evans Atta Mills, and John Mahama all used to travel in the Ghana-owned presidential aircraft.

Interior of the Chartered G-KELT aircraft
Interior of the Chartered G-KELT aircraft Pulse Ghana

Ablakwa, therefore, wondered why Nana Addo decided to abandon the presidential aircraft, causing the country to spend millions of cedis on a private jet.

In a Facebook post, the lawmaker said Nana Addo rents the Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation for £15,000 an hour during each foreign travel.

"It is an outrage and a blatant betrayal for Ghana to own a presidential aircraft in perfect working condition which was ordered by President Kufuor, used by President Mills and President Mahama; and yet President Akufo-Addo chooses to charter a top-of-the-range luxury aircraft offered by Acropolis Aviation," Ablakwa wrote.

Interior of the Chartered G-KELT aircraft
Interior of the Chartered G-KELT aircraft Pulse Ghana

"The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as "the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets."

"It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately £15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it."

He further revealed that, per his information from aviation experts, the President’s recent flights to Paris and Johannesburg cost almost GH¢3 million.

He said Akufo-Addo has "the greatest taste any Ghanaian President has ever had but the question is, should that insatiable appetite for his creature comforts be at the expense of the suffering masses?

Interior of the Chartered G-KELT aircraft
Interior of the Chartered G-KELT aircraft Pulse Ghana

"Let's further analyse President Akufo-Addo’s latest trip to Europe: per Flightradar24, the G-KELT aircraft left Accra with the President to Paris on the 16th of May — a 6 and half hour duration. Airlifted the President from Paris to Johannesburg for 11 hours on the 23rd of May.

"Then Johannesburg to Accra on the 25th of May was a five and half hour flight. This gives us accumulated flight travel of 23 hours; so at £15,000 an hour, it thus cost us a colossal £345,000. At the current exchange, that is a staggering GHS2,828,432.80," Ablakwa added.

In a Twitter post, Sammy Gyamfi adding his voice to the ostentatious spending of the President said "Ghanaians can no longer finance the opulent lifestyle of Nana Addo who has chosen to live like a Russian oligarch in this difficult time of economic hardships, joblessness, and hopelessness."

He added: "Enough of the rape of the public purse."

Authors:

Kojo Emmanuel Kojo Emmanuel

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