The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu has criticized government’s bid to purchase a presidential jet. He said there were questions as to why the president was purchasing an aircraft that he will not personally use. “What is President Kufuor’s interest in wanting to acquire a jet for Ghana when he is not going to be the president to make use of that jet?”, he asked. The 12-seater Falcon 900 Presidential Jet is said to be part of equipment to be purchased by the government for the Ghana Armed Forces. The jet will be delivered by 2010. The aircraft was a subject of intense debate last year following a French newspaper publication that alleged the jet had been ordered. The government denied the reports then. But Parliament this week is considering documents carrying a $100 million loan agreement for the purchase of the equipment. Mr. Iddrisu who is also the Minority Spokesperson on Communication said the purchase of the aircraft was indicative of the double standards of the Kufuor administration. He questioned why the president refused to use the 14-seater jet that was bought before he came into office and rather turn round to purchase a smaller one for a president no one knows yet. As a minority, “our interest will be to expose once again the double standards and lack of principle by the President Kufuor administration”, he stressed. The MP noted that the renewal of the bid to purchase the jet also showed the poor sense of priority by the government. He said the $37 million to be spent on the jet could have been used to save the dire water crisis facing the country. Meanwhile Joy News sources at the Defence Ministry explained that the delivery of the equipment in 2010 was meant to coincide with the grounding of existing equipment. That would ensure the fleet of the Military are adequately replaced. It said the government would be acting irresponsibly if it failed to make arrangements to replace the equipment.