Former Chief of Staff under the Kufuor administration, Kwadwo Mpiani, has called for a national policy mandating the President to pay for the cost of private travels using the Presidential jet.

This comes in the wake of new allegations by Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that the nation paid ¢3.4 million for President Akufo-Addo’s recent trips to the United Kingdom and Germany.

In May 2021, Mr Okudzeto stirred controversy when he alleged the nation paid £15,000 an hour as the President opted for luxurious aircraft instead of using the Presidential jet on his travels to France, Belgium and South Africa.

The ranking member on the foreign affairs committee tells JoyNews the President is abusing his discretionary power in using the presidential jet for his foreign travels.

He filed a question, and Parliament summoned Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, to answer questions on the cost and why Ghana’s own presidential jet was not used.

The Minister justified the president’s decision to rent the aircraft, arguing that the capacity of the presidential aircraft can no longer carry the president’s entourage.

“The decision to travel particularly to long and multiple destinations such as the president travelling to France, Belgium, South Africa and back to Ghana especially during this Covid time will always require a larger capacity aircraft such as a DBKJ or an aircraft ATJ 319 even when the Falcon is air ready,” the Defence Minister told Parliament on June 16.

He told the House that the Finance Minister is best to provide those details regarding the cost incurred on the trip.

Not satisfied with this answer, Mr Ablakwa filed another question to summon the Finance Minister to discuss the cost.

Ken Ofori-Atta appeared before Parliament and noted that questions on the cost and travels of the president will be best answered by the National Security Ministry.

Whilst the nation is yet to be informed of the actual cost incurred by both trips, the former Chief of Staff has suggested an alternative method that can be adopted to halt the extravagant lifestyle of leaders at the expense of taxpayers.

Kwadwo Mpiani, in an interview with JoyNews on Wednesday, noted that policies that will oblige Presidents to pay for their private foreign travels will protect the public purse.

Citing the USA, Mr Mpiani said Presidents are required to refund the cost incurred when they use the official aeroplane, Air force One, for unofficial duties like rallies and other private trips.  

“Maybe President using the official aircraft for some other things other than his works as a President and for his own private purposes in some countries the President will have to pay for the cost of that travel.

“In other words, the state will calculate how much the President spent on the private trips, and he [the President] will have to reimburse the state for the cost of that travel," he said.