They deliberately misrepresented the figures – Felix Kwakye Ofosu on Jinapor’s $1 billion presidential aircraft claim
The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of deliberately misrepresenting the cost of a general military equipment procurement programme, following their $1 billion presidential jet claims.
The Minister described the minority’s claim as blatantly false and provided detailed breakdown of the actual procurement plans.
During an appearance on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, Felix Kwakye Ofosu countered earlier claims by the Member of Parliament for Damongo Samuel Abu Jinapor and members of the NPP, that the NDC government intends to spend $1 billion on presidential aircraft, explaining that the figure represents a comprehensive military equipment package rather than a luxury aircraft for executive use.
“The claim by honorable Abu Jinapor and his colleagues in NPP that we are spending $1 billion to buy presidential jets is patently false,” he stated. “He saw it in the budget and deliberately decided to misrepresent it.”
The Minister explained that the Ghana Armed Forces has submitted requisitions for essential military equipment to enhance national security capabilities.
“The army or the armed forces itself has been making these requisitions, the list includes four helicopters, two aircraft, a medium range one and a long range, along with naval patrol vessels and armored personnel carriers.”
Kwakye Ofosu revealed that a significant portion of the budget is set aside for completing a previously initiated deal with an Israeli company for 19 armored personnel carriers, originally contracted by the erstwhile NPP administration at a total cost of $80 million.
“The NPP had entered into a deal with an Israeli company to procure 19 of them at a total cost of $80 million. They had paid $40 million. The company is insisting that they cannot refund the $40 million if we don’t pay the outstanding $40 million and they will not supply the equipment until we have paid because that’s a contract that the NPP signed with them, so it makes sense to add the $40 million to it to acquire the 19 armored personnel carriers
“If you put the armored personnel carriers, the $40 million that is outstanding together with the two aircraft one medium, one long range, and the four helicopters, it will come roughly somewhere around $300 million, not even closer to the $1 billion they claim” he clarified.
The Minister assured that the Acting Minister for Defense will soon present the bill to Parliament for approval, and is expected to shed more light on the procurement timeline, specific equipment specifications, and funding mechanisms for the programme.
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