Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, has debunked Vincent Ekow Assafuah’s claims that Mahama boarded an expensive private jet.
He emphasised that Ekow Assafuah’s Mahama jet claims a shambolic effort at propaganda that has badly backfired.
Felix Kwakye labelled the MP’s allegation as a mediocre attempt at propaganda.
According to him, Assafuah’s statements are baseless and misleading, adding that President Mahama travelled on a commercial Emirates flight during his trip to Japan.
He further added that President Mahama’s travel arrangements are transparent and verifiable.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, he stated, “Clearly the MP in question is dabbling in a mediocre attempt and propaganda”.
“He does not have any facts. He is just wasting everybody’s time with claims that are false. President Mahama has not travelled by private jet. Indeed, President Mahama travelled to Japan via Emirates, and it is something that you can check. It is not a secret”, the minister said.
His comments following 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, Stan Dogbe, in a sharp reply, told Ekow Assafuah that it does not take that much brainwork to avoid embarrassing yourself.
Stan Dogbe emphasised that, as at the claimed time Assafuah cited, President Mahama was live on TV between 10.30 am and 12.45 pm, attending the thanksgiving mass of Dr Edward Omane Boamah at the Christ the King Parish.
The deputy Chief of Staff, in his response, wrote, “This one here will also demand to be called ‘Honourable’!
Even if you are not street smart, it doesn’t take that much brain work to avoid embarrassing yourself, or?
The president was live on many TV networks between 10.30 am and 12.45 pm, attending the Thanksgiving mass of Dr Edward Omane Boamah at the Christ the King Parish.
Did he take off in the supposed jet at 7.00 am and flew back for the 10.30 am mass?
I guess we have to ask his classmates how smart this guy was in his lower school days because… Eish!
This is not how to be relevant oooh! Vincent Ekow Assafuah, invest in reading and how to be politically relevant and stop disgracing MPs”.
Stan Dogbe, in a separate post on Facebook, revealed President Mahama’s travel to Japan on board a commercial airline from Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.
Meanwhile, Vincent Ekow Assafuah has said it is within his right as a lawmaker to demand the full disclosure of President John Mahama’s travels.
He noted that the amount of money that it is costing the taxpayer and the people going with the president must not be hidden.
According to Assafuah, he does not think the President’s delegation travels with him on the Emirates flight.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, August 18, Vincent Ekow Assafuah stated, “I have made a Facebook post that seeks answers from the government. It is within my rights as an MP to seek answers with regard to how my President is travelling out of the country, the amount of money that it is costing the taxpayer, and the people that he is going with, because they are going to be paid per diem. All this information should not be hidden from us”.
“I am suggesting to you that I do not think that the President and his delegation, all of them, went with the Emirates flight that they are talking about”, he added.