GENERAL NEWS

Government is acquiring new presidential aircraft-Defence Minister

Published

3 years ago

September 28, 2021

Government is already in the process of acquiring a bigger jet for use,” he said at a press briefing at the Jubilee House on Monday.

Mr Arhin was answering a question on whether the government intended buying a bigger aircraft to accommodate the President and his entourage on official foreign trips as the current presidential jet had proven inadequate for the purpose.

He explained that the move to get a bigger fit-for-purpose aircraft was part of a cost saving measure on the travels of the President and other key state functionaries.

Mr Arhin did not give the specifics of the aircraft deal, but said the Defence Minister would shed light on the development at the appropriate time.

The President’s foreign travels have generated discussions on the airwaves and on social media lately, with some Ghanaians asking why the President has to fly in hired private aircrafts when the country owned a functional presidential jet.

But the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul told Parliament that the configuration of the current Presidential jet, a falcon 900EX purchased during the era of former President John Kufuor, did not meet the travel needs and security of the President.

“This aircraft will carry a load of 11 persons minus the crew. When this aircraft is travelling to the eastern part of the USA or Asia, it will not load a crew of more than eight plus the luggage. So it depends on where it is going.

“Secondly, I have also said the aircraft has to do refuelling stops, and also in this COVID-19, when you are travelling to multiple destinations like the president’s recent travel, the Falcon couldn’t have been taken because he would have had to do technical stops which are not desirable, and when he is travelling with more than 20 people like he has been doing for business trips that brought huge sums of money for this country, he will need more than just a Falcon, otherwise, the others would have to go a day ahead before the president to prepare themselves,” Nitiwul stated.

Former President Kufour before leaving office in 2008, made provisions for the procurement of two aircrafts for the Ghana Air Force, which included a larger jet for use by the President and his delegation on state travels. But the deal was however abrogated by the Mills administration.

According to the Defence Minister, if that arrangement had held, that bigger aircraft would have been deployed for the strategic lifting of troops, and could be reconfigured into presidential jet for the president’s travels to save the country the huge amounts spent for delegation who traveled ahead of the president.

He told a private radio station in Accra that since the cancelation of the deal for acquisition of the bigger aircraft by the Mills administration, the country had spent in excess of USD 50 million on official trips of the government.

Touching on the issues arising from the appointment of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Mr Arhin dismissed the allegation that some of the MMDCE’s nominated by the President were not originally shortlisted for those positions.

He said the claim by some civil society organisations (CSOs) that about 44 per cent of the MMDCEs were not recommended by the three-member committee that vetted their nominations, and 10 per cent of the nominees did not apply for the positions, was false.

The Communications Director stated that those allegations were based on a supposedly leaked report on the nominees shortlisted for the MMDCE positions.

“I can say on authority that that report was not the report that was submitted to the President,” he said, adding that the President was not bound by any law to resort to any report to hire or fire his appointees.

“He is not bound by the recommendations of any report. He decides what he has to do,” he said, stating emphatically that the President was satisfied with his appointments and unruffled by the threats that some of his appointees would not secure the two-thirds majority votes to gain approval of their local assemblies.

“It is a human institution so we expect that there would definitely be agitations. If at the end of the day, voting is conducted and a nominee is rejected, the President can renominate that person on two occasions.

“If on all the two occasions that person is rejected, the Constitution gives him the power to present somebody else. Agitation is a normal phenomenon of human life,” he said.

Mr Arhin also indicated that President Akufo-Addo had begun a process to assess the work programme of his ministers for the rest of 2021.

He explained that the consultative meeting with the Ministers will ensure they were in tune with the President’s agenda for his second term in government.

Mr Arhin said the President was scheduled to embark on a week’s tour of the Eastern and Ashanti Regions from Friday,

Source:GNA

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Buzz

Jomoro MP, Dorcas Affo-Toffey Allegedly Attacks Diasporans In East Legon (Video Drops)*

Published

11 months ago

January 11, 2024

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In a recent incident that happened at Evans Hotel, near Trasacco Valley, East Legon, member of parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Western Region is alleged to have been in a ferocious brawl with a diasporan family who came to Ghana for the Christmas holidays.

The victim, Olivia, an American giving her account on the incident, explains that Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey parked in a wrong spot at the hotel leaving little to no space for other patrons to park their cars. This attracted the security guard at post to confront the MP but he was met with series of insults and an order to back off.

Olivia further explains that they needed a space to park their car also so her boyfriend, who was in the car with her and her father decided to talk to Hon. Dorcas so she could do the needful. But he was equally met with more scorn and barbs. She (the MP) then ordered her bodyguard and a group of men and women she was with to beat them up and in the process got their car mangled at different spots and glasses cracked as well.

Olivia then added that she got hurt physically and her whole family are traumatized by the happenings. She lastly said she did not know the said woman was even a lawmaker until after the incident. She quizzed that if lawmakers are this lawless, who will fight for ordinary citizens?

Olivia shared that she has since reported the case to the police and hope due diligence will be done and the peppertrators be brought to book according to the law. She said the security camera of the hotel captured the whole event which corroborates with her story.

Minister of Jomoro Constituency, Western Region, Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey is yet to speak to the matter.

Watch the account of Olivia on the case and snippets of the incident from the CCTV of Evans Hotel.

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GENERAL NEWS

Reviving the Garden City; Restoring the Significance of Kumasi in West Africa

Published

11 months ago

January 4, 2024

admin@audiogh

Once known as the “Garden City,” of West Africa, Kumasi, a bustling city in Ghana, has sadly fallen from grace. The once pristine streets and lush greenery have been replaced by filth and neglect. It is disheartening to witness the deterioration of this once beautiful city, and even more concerning is the lack of action and care from its inhabitants. In this article, we will explore the reasons why nobody seems to care about the filth in Kumasi, and shed light on the detrimental effects it has on both the city and its residents.

Gone are the days when Kumasi was a shining example of cleanliness and order. Today, rubbish is disposed of haphazardly, and the streets are filled with a variety of waste. The market women and men, who were once the lifeblood of the city, contribute to the problem by making the inner city filthy while continuing to sell their goods amidst the mess. This lack of responsibility and disregard for hygiene is deeply concerning.

Understanding the causes of this filth epidemic is essential to tackle the issue effectively. One major reason is the lack of proper waste management systems and infrastructure. If people do not have convenient options for waste disposal, they are more likely to resort to dumping rubbish wherever they please.

Additionally, the absence of strict enforcement and penalties for littering further exacerbates the problem. It is a collective failure on the part of authorities, residents, and businesses.

The consequences of Kumasi’s filth extend far beyond the immediate eyesore. Firstly, the health hazards posed by uncollected garbage and unsanitary conditions cannot be ignored. Diseases and infections spread more easily in such environments, putting the well-being of residents at risk. Secondly, the city’s image and tourism potential are severely compromised. A dirty and neglected city fails to attract visitors, leading to economic losses for local businesses and residents alike. Lastly, the filth breeds a culture of apathy and indifference, perpetuating a cycle of neglect.

Addressing the filth in Kumasi requires a multi-faceted approach involving both the government and its citizens. Firstly, there needs to be a significant investment in waste management infrastructure, such as garbage collection systems, recycling facilities, and public waste bins. Moreover, strict enforcement of littering laws and appropriate penalties should be implemented to deter irresponsible behavior.

[Watch Video Here]

Source: MC Paa Saahene