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Bow your head in shame and apologise – Ken Agyapong tells Ablakwa

NewsBow your head in shame and apologise – Ken Agyapong tells Ablakwa

Kennedy Agyapong, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, has told the Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to bow his head in shame and apologise.

The former lawmaker noted that Ablakwa, in opposition, did a disservice to Ghana.

It will be recalled that Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in opposition, exposed then-President Akufo-Addo’s use of private jets.

He exposed former President Akufo-Addo’s $20,000-an-hour luxury jet travels, which he revealed as a wasteful expense.

The exposé pressured Akufo-Addo to revert to using Ghana’s presidential jet, saving millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.

Speaking in an interview with Oman FM, Kennedy Agyapong stated, “The recent helicopter crash that claimed eight precious lives should be a wake-up call for us all on the extent to which unnecessary partisanship is destroying our country”.

“For the sake of political expedience, Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa vehemently opposed the acquisition and engaged in unfortunate banter. He must bow his head in shame and apologise for his disservice to our dear country,” Agyapong charged.

“In the long term, the acquisition of a fit-for-purpose presidential jet is economically prudent compared to the expenditure incurred on presidential travels devoid of the same,” he explained.

“Additionally, the focus must rather be on the potential benefits of presidential travels.”

However, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said he owes no one an apology for leading the noble oversight on Akufo-Addo’s presidential travels to protect taxpayers.

According to Ablakwa, he remains extremely proud of his oversight as Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.

He also added that former President Akufo-Addo is also proud of the forceful arguments on his presidential travels.

In a post on X on Wednesday, August 20, Hon Ablakwa responded to his critics saying, “I remain extremely proud of my parliamentary oversight… My principled position has not changed and will not change. It has always been for God and Country”.

Ablakwa 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 Affair 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;

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”.

Ablakwa, however, noted that 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 further 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;

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