Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has mocked Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the member of parliament for Old Tafo, over his attempts to emulate him regarding Ghana’s presidential travels.
According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, it is comical that the very people demanding him to apologise or resign are the same people trying so hard to emulate his actions.
He noted that his wannabes have been spectacularly disastrous in their attempts to emulate him.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, in a Facebook post, claimed John Mahama boarded a private plane at an incredible cost of $690,000.
Ekow Assafuah, in a Facebook post, wrote, “This private jet, M-BAEP, left Accra this morning around 7 a.m. It is estimated to cost $15,000 per hour to rent this flight. A simple calculation shows that the 7-hour journey already covered amounts to $105,000.
If the flight proceeds to Japan, which is likely to take about 12 hours, that would be another $180,000”.
He further added, “If it then continues to Singapore, approximately 7 hours away, that would add another $105,000.
Finally, if the jet flies directly to Germany and then back to Accra, a total of about 20 hours return trip, that would add another $300,000.
Altogether, the cost comes to an incredible $690,000 without including waiting times and/or stopovers”.
However, it was later revealed that President John Dramani Mahama boarded an Emirates Airlines flight EK318 during his recent trip to Tokyo.
Ablakwa, in a write-up on X on Wednesday, August 20, Hon Ablakwa responded to his critics, saying,“I owe no one an apology for leading this consequential and noble oversight to protect taxpayers. I am confident the vast majority of Ghanaians are appreciative of my sacrifices — this is a legacy I will forever cherish. I did it in good conscience for my country and not for the praises of those who cannot look beyond their stomachs”.
“It is really comical that the very people demanding of me to apologise or resign are the same people trying so hard to emulate my actions — the overwhelming verdict by Ghanaians, however, is that, so far, the ‘wannabes’ have been spectacularly disastrous. In all humility, I am now inundated with appeals from well-meaning Ghanaians asking that I urgently organise a workshop for the disgraced MPs. That is what happens when you are not motivated by truth, patriotism, diligence, principle, sincerity, and the national interest,” he added.
“I was long vindicated when President Akufo-Addo reluctantly listened to me and the good people of Ghana who were justifiably outraged by his profligate conduct, and therefore had to stop the practice of renting ultra-luxury executive jets at taxpayer expense in his final year in office,” Ablakwa added.
Ablakwa, in his post, also recounted former President Akufo-Addo’s own determined opposition to President Rawlings’ plans to acquire a new executive jet in parliament in 2000.
He wrote, I am quite certain former President Akufo-Addo is also proud of the forceful arguments he made in Parliament as Ranking Member, specifically on 15th February, 2000 opposing plans by President Rawlings to purchase a new executive jet primarily on the basis that it wasn’t a priority. Ironically, his misguided hirelings and minions vilifying me conveniently conceal former President Akufo-Addo’s documented track record. (See attached the Parliamentary Hansard of February 15, 2000 containing Akufo-Addo’s revealing debate);
Former President Akufo-Addo didn’t think President Rawlings’ presidential jet acquisition should be exempt from the principles of prioritization, prudence, value for money and transparency — so what changed when he became President 17 years later? Why is Akufo-Addo’s conduct in 2000 commendable but my conduct between 2021 and 2024 condemnable?”
The Foreign Affairs minister added, “I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever for leading a long-drawn-out successful patriotic campaign against former President Akufo-Addo’s unjustified, wasteful and extremely reckless ostentatious charter of ultra-luxury jets for US$18,000 an hour, particularly at a time Ghana’s presidential jet was available and in pristine condition;
My oversight mandate was strictly inspired by the national interest and the patriotic objective of protecting the public purse — consistent with former President Akufo-Addo’s own eloquent pledge;
See the post below:
THE PRESIDENTIAL JET DEBATE — MY PROUD LEGACY FOR GOD AND COUNTRY AND WHY DISHONEST SPIN AND HATE CAMPAIGNS CANNOT DEFEAT TRUTH
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) August 20, 2025
1. I remain extremely proud of my parliamentary oversight as Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, particularly on my… pic.twitter.com/nm5WFyrL9e