Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Archives - Page 6 of 17

EU takes Ghana off money laundering blacklist

The European Union has finally taken Ghana off its money laundering blacklist. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday, 25 June 2021, delisted Ghana from the list. A statement issued to that effect said: “The FATF welcomes Ghana’s significant progress in improving its AML/CFT regime”. Ghana, it noted, has “strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime and addressed related technical deficiencies to meet the commitments in its action plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the FATF identified in October 2018”. To that end, the statement said Ghana is, therefore, “no longer subject to the FATF’s increased monitoring process”. It added that Ghana “will continue to work with GIABA to improve further, its AML/CFT regime”. During a two-day working visit of President Nana Akufo-Addo to Brussels, Belgium, on 19 and 20 May 2021, the European Commission announced its decision to remove Ghana from the list of countries that are deficient in anti-money laundering and terrorism financing, a statement issued at the time by the acting Director of Communication at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, said. “At a meeting between President Akufo-Addo and the President of the European Council, Mr Charles Michel, as well as the European Commission, the EU acknowledged the efforts Ghana has made in implementing the action plan of the International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) in record time”, the statement said. The Commission, the statement noted, “thus, congratulated Ghana for the reforms embarked on, as well as the sustainable robust systems deployed toward being taken off the list”. According to the statement, “it is expected that the Financial Action Task Force, the Global Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Watchdog, will, in June 2021, announce that Ghana has been taken off its list of high-risk third world countries with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and countering of terrorism financing”. The European Commission blacklisted Ghana in May 2020. The revised money-laundering list, which was expanded to include 22 from 16 states, took effect from October 2020. Apart from Ghana, the Commission added Panama, the Bahamas, Mauritius, Barbados, Botswana, Cambodia, Jamaica, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe to its list of countries that “pose significant threats to the financial system of the Union” because of failings in tackling money laundering and terrorism financing. Banks and other financial and tax firms were obliged to scrutinise, more closely, their clients who had dealings with the blacklisted countries. Companies in the blacklisted countries were also banned from receiving new EU funding with effect from October. Countries who were already on the list include Afghanistan, Iraq, Vanuatu, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Iran and North Korea. All countries but North Korea have committed to changing their rules in order to better tackle money laundering and terrorism financing. –Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

“I was very disappointed in the result of the election in the Upper East Region–President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his recent visit to the Upper East Region has disappointed some party personalities who claimed all is well with President Akufo-Addo regarding the party abysmal performance in the region during the 2020 general election. Apexnewsgh.com reports Upper East Region is one of the regions across the country that performed abysmally during the 2020 general elections. Before the general elections in 2020, politicians from both the opposition NDC and the governing NPP in the region predicted a number of Parliamentary seats both parties will capture after the final election declaration results. NDC, knowing they dominate the Upper East Region, came out with Operation 16-16 meaning that they are not leaving any constituency out, whiles the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the region strongly believes they will capture between 5 to 7 seats out of 16 constituencies. However, the predictions went in favor of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who nearly took all the 16 seats but succeeded in capturing 15 seats in the region, leaving only one seat for the governing NPP, the Binduri seat. Even though one would have thought that the already secured 3 seats by the governing party will be maintained but unfortunately, all the old seats were lost to the NDC. President Akufo-Addo during his speech at the Bawku Naba Palace made what he what described as a ‘frank’ pronouncement to the people of the Upper East Region during his visit to Zug-Raan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II “Just as you speak frankly to me, I have to speak frankly to you as well and had to say to you that I was very disappointed in the result of the election in the Upper East Region. Especially if you have considered the work we have done in this region. But whatever the case may be, at least we have one seat in the case of the MP for Binduri” President Akufo-Addo said. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

Akufo-Addo commission Bolga East Assembly building

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Monday, 21st June 2021, commissioned a newly constructed building for the Bolgatanga East District Assembly, following his working visit of the Upper East Region, which saw him visit Bolgatanga, Binduri and Bawku. Construction of the new Assembly Building commenced in the first term of President Akufo-Addo, with the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, and other officials of state assisting the President in the commissioning at Zuarungu, the site of the building. Earlier that day, President Akufo-Addo was at the palace of the Zugraan Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, in Bawku, to pay a courtesy call on him as part of his visit to the Region and the chiefs, queenmothers and elders of the Kusuag Traditional Area. In his address, the President thanked the Bawku Naba for the warm welcome and the strong words of commendation that gave him and members of his government. “I came also to thank you and the people of the Upper East for your support of me and my party during the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. As you spoke to me frankly, I have to speak to you frankly as well,” he said. The President continued, “I have to say that I was very disappointed with the results of the election in the Upper East Region, especially when you consider the work that we have done in this Region. Whatever the case, at least we have one seat and that is the MP for Binduri. I have to thank you for that.” President Akufo-Addo was delighted to note that the various interventions that the government has put in place since 2017 – Free Senior High School, Planting for Food and Jobs, One Village One Dam, One District One Warehouse – are all being well received here in the Upper East region. “I am also very happy to hear from you about the peace in the area. That is the work of the Bawku Interethnic Peace Committee. The handicap of the committee that you referred to with regards to transport will be solved. Very soon the car you wanted for the committee will be delivered to you. We have to do everything possible to maintain the peace and security of the area,” he said. Touching on the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs, which, he said, “has been going on very well here”, the President noted that “last year, although we targeted 47,761 farmers under the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme, in the end we registered 66,680 farmers, 20,000 more than were originally scheduled are now under the programme.” The President added that six (6) warehouses in the Kusaug Traditional Area are being constructed, and are 80% complete. Additionally, he added that 40 dams have been built in the Kusuag traditional area as part of the One Dam One Village initiative. “In the same way under the 1-District-1-Factory policy, very soon we are going to establish a guinea fowl processing factory here in Bawku. I am so happy to hear the commitment you have made to stop the smuggling of fertilizer from the area. It is a very important commitment, and I applaud you very much for it,” he added. On roads, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the road construction situation in the Upper East is improving, and was happy to see that the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Polimakom road is now 80% complete, and will be completed soon. “Bawku Naba, the NDC never did that road. I have come and I have done the road for you. I know how dear the road is to your heart, and that is why I have said to you that in my time I will complete that road. I am almost there. In the same way the Bawku principal road, as well as the bypass for the Bawku highway are also going to start very soon because I hear that the consultant has begun the stakeholder engagement which should end very soon. That will pave the way. I want everybody to cooperate with the work that is going to be done to enable these developments to take place,” he said. President Akufo-Addo assured that, under Agenda 111, districts without hospitals in the Kusaug area will be provided with hospitals, “just as also the extension of electricity is part of the measures that are being unfolded, which you will also be included in”. On measures to strengthen the security along the borders of the Upper East Region, the President told the Bawku Naba that a permanent barracks is going to be established in Bawku to curb the threat of terrorism there. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Education

Convert Binduri Community Day High School to boarding school– Zug-Raan appealed to government

As part of his request to the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government, the Paramount Chief of the Bawku Traditional Area, Zug-Raan, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, has appealed to the government to convert the Binduri Community Day High School to a boarding school to help curb the incidences of pregnancies among the girl who, for lack of accommodation, are living in local houses and thus exposed to premature sexual activities with irresponsible men/boys. According to the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Network, teenage pregnancy cases among girls aged 10 to 14 in the region has increased from 103 in 2019 to 142 in 2020, representing a 38 percent increase Bawku Naba made the passionate appeal during President Akufo-Addo’s visit to his palace as part of his 2-day tour to the Upper East on June 21, 2021. “We would be grateful if you could make the Binduri Community Day High School a boarding school to help curb the incidences of pregnancies among the girls who, for lack of accommodation, are living in local houses and thus exposed to premature sexual activities with irresponsible men/boys. Similarly, I am appealing for the completion of the Community Day Senior High School buildings at Sapeliga, Pusiga and Garu that have been abandoned for some time now. This will increase the enrollment of our children, especially the girl child in the free senior high school programme”. However, President Akufo-Addo during his speech promised to consider his request. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Politics

UER: “Consider splitting the Bawku West district and constituency into two”-Zug-Raan, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II to government

The Paramount Chief of the Bawku Traditional Area, Zug-Raan, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, has appealed for President Akufo-Addo and his government to consider splitting the Bawku West district and Bawku Central Constituency into two. Bawku Naba who made the appeal during President Akufo-Addo’s visit to his palace on June 21, 2021 as part of his 2-day tour to the Upper East Region said, they qualify for a region in most respects by population, resources, and infrastructure among others. ”We have made repeated calls on government to consider splitting the Bawku West district and constituency into two, because of its vast land size and population. We are yet to see the light at the end of the tunnel during the tenure of your office. This will go a long way to bridge the desired effect. While this is pending we also see the need for the Bawku Central constituency to be split into two for its huge population, leading to the creation of a new region in the not-too-distant future for the eastern corner of the Upper East Region. We qualify for a region in most respects by population, resources, and infrastructure among others. We hope all these requests will be given the needed attention they deserve”. He appealed However, responding to the request made by Naba Asigri Abugrago Azorka II, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assured the chief that his request will be considered. “I have heard your request for the division of Bawku West and Bawku Central and even a possible creation of a region for the Kussaug kingdom …. You want to be on top of the Kussaug kingdom here, these are all things I will be considering and you will hear from me” President Akufo- Addo responded He further paid a visit to elders of Mamprusi and Binduri Naba as he proceeded to the newly created Bolgatanga East district for the commissioning of a newly constructed District Assembly building. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Business

Gov’t urged to offer GHS10k as business startup capital for final year tertiary students

Dr. Sa-ad Iddrisu a United States-based Economist and lecturer, has called on government to start awarding startup capital to final year tertiary students for them to start small-scale businesses. This comes on the back of the current youth unemployment crisis in the country. Dr. Iddrisu believes things may get out of hand if the government doesn’t take immediate action to give the youth and graduates work to do. In his latest piece, the Economist notes that there are more than a hundred ways to deal with the rising youth unemployment problem stressing that offering start-up capital to University Graduates is key. Dr. Iddrisu adds that government should also give Corporate Tax incentives to businesses that will potentially offer jobs to these graduates. “Government should offer immediate tax incentives to small and large businesses that are able to hire fresh graduates from the tertiary institutions. Those we may call “first time workers”. Government can offer these tax incentives in grade levels, depending on the number of hires by any company,” part of the write-up from the US-based lecturer reads. It continues, “Although this will affect government revenue due to decline in corporate taxes in the short run, it can be compensated with income taxes, reduction in crime and increased productivity, thus, GDP in the long run.” In his conclusion, Dr. Iddrisu has urged the police administration to secure bulletproof vests for police officers in the country to use when assigned on duty. Below is the full statement of Dr. Sa-ad Iddrisu circulating on WhatsApp groups: Government should start offering 10,000ghc as Business Start Up Capital for Final Year Tertiary Students Dr. Sa-ad Iddrisu writes; I wrote a short piece yesterday calling on government to act immediately to address the joblessness of the youth and also wished a Rest In Peace to the police officer who was killed during the bullion van robbery. Shortly after, many replies poured out to me on WhatsApp groups, and one that caught my attention greatly was the one that asked me to shut up for telling the government to act immediately without offering any solutions. That was an interesting comment, but I would like to say that it’s the government’s responsibility to fix the country. Therefore, no citizen owes the government any solution(s) being that we relinquished that trust to government upon government every four years through elections. Also, it’s worth noting that, elsewhere, nations are built on policies from think tanks, academia, research institutions, and the general public. In Ghana, the story is different. Our country is built with policies from party headquarters’ or the presidential candidates homes where only few friends and family are invited for dinner. We live in a country where government’s refuse to adopt solutions to problems formulated by policy think tanks, academia and others. If you find yourself in parliament, then perhaps you would be taken serious when you propose solutions to a national problem. Even with that, it will depend on whether you are a “grade 1 or grade 2”parliamentarian. Thus, knowing all these sad realities, there isn’t much motivation to offer solutions and policy alternatives to government. Therefore, it’s not that citizens don’t have solutions to offer the government to address the youth unemployment and other crisis facing the nation. It’s a question of whether the government will listen and implement them or the opposition parties will adopt such policies and implement them properly for the development of the country when they win power? That’s part of the reasons why you find citizens resorting to only complaints and demonstrations rather than offering solutions to government. If I haven’t read policies offered by citizens, at least, I have read policies offered by Imani Ghana, university professors and even that of “We the People Matter Movement”. Imani Ghana even struggled with government officials and sometimes landed in courts, just to give advice on best practices to government. Yet, we are all witnesses to how past and present governments have behaved, with some officials taking things personally against Imani Ghana representatives. As then Executive Director of “We the People Matter Movement”, from 2019 to 2020, I led a team to offer policy alternatives on ex-gratia, healthcare, local governance, corruption, among others. All were published in various newspapers and online platforms. Yet, we are all witnesses to how things are in Ghana! That being said, I reflected upon a quote that I once read stating, “change only takes place through action.” As a result, this quote motivated this reply to my initial thoughts yesterday, to expand my perspective to discover ways that government can enact action to mitigate the youth unemployment crisis. There are more than hundred ways to deal with the rising youth unemployment problem which many citizens may have in mind, but two solutions keep crossing my mind at the moment: 1. Corporate Tax incentives: Government should offer immediate tax incentives to small and large businesses that are able to hire fresh graduates from the tertiary institutions. Those we may call “first time workers”. Government can offer these tax incentives in grade levels, depending on the number of hires by any company. Although this will affect government revenue due to decline in corporate taxes in the short run, it can be compensated with income taxes, reduction in crime and increased productivity, thus, GDP in the long run. 2. Start up capital: It is obvious that existing companies can’t hire all yearly graduating students from the tertiary institutions in the country. Government needs to offer incentives to fresh graduates to develop a business mindset and be able to start their own businesses. Government can offer all final year students a suggested amount of 10,000ghc or less to start a business after graduation. However, this may be dependent on government ability to fund it taking into account that we have about 250,000 students graduating yearly from our tertiary institutions. In case of budget constraint, government can offer only a selected percentage of final year students the determined amount as a start

Politics

We’ll use 2021 Census data to plan, develop more effectively; get involved – Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo, has reiterated the need for all Ghanaians to get involved in the 2021 National Population and Housing Census. President Akufo-Addo insists the involvement of all Ghanaians will help the government in decision-making. He therefore charged opinion leaders in various communities to rally their people to participate in the exercise. President Akufo-Addo was speaking at an event in Accra. “With the imminent commencement of the 2021 Population and Housing Census by the Ghana Statistical Service on Sunday, June 27, 2021, I urge everyone here to help ensure a successful event. We hope to use the reliable data obtained to plan and develop mother Ghana more effectively.” Already, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has assured Ghanaians that there will be an inclusive exercise where every tribe or ethnic group in Ghana will be captured without discrimination, no matter the size of their numbers. Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, who made this comment while interacting with some journalists on Friday, June 4, 2021, said even though some tribes have started expressing concerns for not seeing their tribe as arranged in the main tribe categories, that does not mean that they have been overlooked or discriminated against. “The census will count everyone who will spend the 27th June in Ghana irrespective of ethnic group be it Fulani, or any other ethnic group. So, irrespective of your nationality, ethnic group, once you spend 27th night within the borders of the country you will be counted”, he noted. —citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Business

MTN Ghana bags Seven awards at the 6th Finance Innovation Awards

MTN Ghana carried the day by winning seven awards at the 6th Africa Finance Innovation Awards held over the weekend, making the organization the highest recipient of the night. MTN received awards in the following categories; Investor Relations Team of the Year Corporate Performance Team of the Year Finance Team of the Year – Telecom Finance and Innovation Award – Telecom In addition to the corporate awards, MTN received three personality awards. The Acting Chief Finance Officer of MTN Ghana, Mr. Kobina Bentsi-Enchill has been adjudged the Most Promising CFO of the Year. MTN Group Chief Financial Officer, Madam Tsholofelo Molefe and the former Chief Finance Officer of MTN Ghana, Mr. Modupe Kadri were named among top 25 CFOs in Africa. The Finance team has also been recognized as the Team of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. For the second consecutive time, MTN was adjudged Investor Relations Team of the Year and Corporate Performance Team of the Year. Receiving the awards, the Acting CFO at MTN Ghana, Mr. Kobina Bentsi-Enchill expressed appreciation to the organizers for the awards. He dedicated the awards to the Finance Team, MTN Customers, Suppliers and Vendors. Commenting on the awards, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN, Selorm Adadevoh commended Kobina for his leadership skills and congratulated him for the Can Do, team spirit and the zeal exhibited in ensuring the Finance team continues to deliver on its mandates in Ghana and beyond. “MTN as a good corporate citizen continues to abide by the laws of Ghana and ensures prompt filing and payment of taxes over the years. This acknowledgment was made by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in his address at the launch of MTN’s 25th Anniversary celebration” he added. Selorm thanked Kobina and the Finance team for the sterling performance and congratulated Tsholofelo Molefe and Modupe Kadri for being named among the top 25 CFO’s in Africa. The 6th Africa Finance Innovation Awards recognized corporate institutions that have gone beyond responding and recovering by transforming and rebuilding their organization in the new normal era for a stronger future following the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa’s economic development. The Finance Innovation Awards has been rebranded over the years. The awards organized by Instinct Business, from inception named the awards CFO Awards, rebranded to Ghana Finance Innovation Awards and now Africa Finance Innovation Awards. MTN Ghana’s Finance Management and Innovation continue to be recognized over the years. MTN has won 15 awards from 2016 to 2019. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion

Akufo-Addo convenes ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on Mali’s renewed political crisis

President Akufo-Addo is convening an extraordinary summit of ECOWAS on the renewed political crisis in Mali. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, announced this to the media at a press briefing held at the Information Ministry on Saturday morning, May 29, 2021. According to her, 10 heads of state and Governments will be attending the summit in Accra tomorrow, Sunday, May 30, 2021. The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, will be represented by his Foreign Affairs Minister, she revealed. The republic of Benin, she said, has confirmed participation. She said in line with the ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance, President Nana Akufo-Addo is convening the summit. The purpose of the summit is to enable the authorities deliberate and take consequential decision on the evolving security situation in Mali, according to her. She added that one of the mediators of the Mali’s political crisis, former President Goodluck Jonathan, will report to the summit tomorrow on the outcome of his fact-finding mission to Mali. She expressed hope that all political actors in Mali will accept the outcome of the Summit to ensure. Mr Akufo-Addo will be chairing the summit in his capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS. It will be the second time Mr Akufo-Addo is hosting an extraordinary summit on Mali. The summit took place in 2020 at the Peduase Presidential Lodge in Aburi, Eastern Region of Ghana. ‘Release President, Prime Minister’ Already, the Mediators of ECOWAS in the Malian crisis, including former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, have demanded the immediate release of the transitional president and Prime Minister of Mali. The Mediators made the call in a communique. In the Communique directly made available to the media outlets by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, the mediators requested that President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, should be released. Mali’s transitional leaders were on Monday, May 24, 2021, stripped off their powers by the army. Since then, the President and Prime Minister have been in detention. According to the foreign Minister, at the end of the summit tomorrow, a Communique will be issued. At the behest of the President of the Republic, an ECOWAS Mediation team, led by H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator for Mali, embarked on a fact-finding mission to Mali from 25th to 26th May, 2021 to assess the situation and explore opportunities for the resolution of the crisis. H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will, therefore, report to the Summit on the outcome of the mission. May I indicate that the convening of the Extraordinary Session demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the President of the Republic towards addressing the political situation in Mali. “It would be recalled that barely a week after his assumption of office as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, H.E. the President, convened an emergency Summit, held at Peduase, in response to the military intervention, which saw the ousting of the then President H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on 18th August, 2020. That meeting took important decisions, including a demand on the Malian authorities to ensure that the Transition Government was Civilian-led and should last for a period of eighteen (18) months, with effect from 15th September, 2020. The Summit also affirmed that once a civilian-led transition government had assumed office, ECOWAS within the context of its protocols will assist Mali to return to democratic governance. It is important to note that H.E. the President has since been at the centre of efforts, including mediation initiatives, to bring lasting peace and stability to Mali,” the Foreign Minister said. “It is hoped that all the political actors in Mali will support the outcome of the Extraordinary Summit to be held tomorrow in order to restore constitutional order in our sister country as soon as practicable. The outcome of the Summit will be critical to sustaining the momentum for the return of democracy and stability in Mali,” she stressed. DGN Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

Opinion

Akufo-Addo’s ‘luxurious’ economy-fixing private jet trips to Paris, Jo’burg cost GHS2.8m – Ablakwa

The cost of private jet rental that President Akufo-Addo used for his recent working visit to France and Johannesburg is estimated at £345,000, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said. According to him, the whopping £345,000 is equivalent to GHS2,828,432.80. He indicated that per information gathered from aviation experts, “it would have cost Ghana less than 15% of this 2.8million Ghana Cedis had President Akufo-Addo opted for Ghana’s available presidential jet which is in pristine condition”. He raised the concern in a lengthy Facebook post on 27 May 2021. The ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament noted that the country owns a presidential aircraft in perfect working condition which was ordered by President Kufuor, used by President Mills and President Mahama, “and yet President Akufo-Addo chooses to charter a top-of-the-range luxury aircraft offered by Acropolis Aviation”. Describing the aesthetics of the aircraft, Mr Ablakwa disclosed that “The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as “the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets.” “The aircraft in issue is less than two years old and had only returned from Switzerland where it received the highest luxurious spruce up ever known in the aviation world just before President Akufo-Addo chose that particular luxurious monster”. He continued: “It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately £15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it. “Let’s further analyse President Akufo-Addo’s latest trip to Europe: per Flightradar24, the G-KELT aircraft left Accra with the President to Paris on the 16th of May — a 6 and half hour duration. Airlifted the President from Paris to Johannesburg for 11 hours on the 23rd of May. Then Johannesburg to Accra on the 25th of May was a five and half hour flight. This gives us an accumulated flight travel of 23 hours; so at £15,000 an hour, it thus cost us a colossal £345,000. At the current exchange, that is a staggering GHS2,828,432.80”. “I have therefore filed an urgent question in Parliament to compel the Akufo-Addo administration to be accountable to the Ghanaian people on this matter and ultimately to prick their conscience to end this obscene profligacy at this time of considerable economic hardships,” he added. Read the full Facebook post below: President Akufo-Addo has been a leading voice for debt forgiveness in the international arena and back home has been imposing additional regressive taxes with the justification that the economy isn’t in a good place. Sadly, he consistently fails to lead by example in a period of austerity where his government is appealing to struggling public sector workers to lower wage increase expectations. It is an outrage and a blatant betrayal for Ghana to own a presidential aircraft in perfect working condition which was ordered by President Kufuor, used by President Mills and President Mahama; and yet President Akufo-Addo chooses to charter a top-of-the-range luxury aircraft offered by Acropolis Aviation. The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as “the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets.” It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately £15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it. The aircraft in issue is less than two years old and had only returned from Switzerland where it received the highest luxurious spruce up ever known in the aviation world just before President Akufo-Addo chose that particular luxurious monster. The jet can take up to 150 people in ordinary circumstances, however, it has been configured to accommodate only 17 royal passengers. The spectacularly opulent aircraft comes equipped with a lavish master bedroom, an imposing en-suite bathroom, monarchial dining facilities and round the clock IT connectivity. President Akufo-Addo undoubtedly has the greatest taste any Ghanaian President has ever had but the question is, should that insatiable appetite for his creature comforts be at the expense of the suffering masses? Let’s further analyse President Akufo-Addo’s latest trip to Europe: per Flightradar24, the G-KELT aircraft left Accra with the President to Paris on the 16th of May — a 6 and half hour duration. Airlifted the President from Paris to Johannesburg for 11 hours on the 23rd of May. Then Johannesburg to Accra on the 25th of May was a five and half hour flight. This gives us an accumulated flight travel of 23 hours; so at £15,000 an hour, it thus cost us a colossal £345,000. At current exchange, that is a staggering GHS2,828,432.80. Aviation experts inform me it would have cost Ghana less than 15% of this 2.8million Ghana Cedis had President Akufo-Addo opted for Ghana’s available presidential jet which is in pristine condition. Alternatively, far more affordable travel arrangements are available which could have aligned with the President’s rhetoric for sympathy from the west for African nations. The irony is that President Akufo-Addo engaged in this fantastic extravagance on his way to France to go beg President Emmanuel Macron for debt cancellation. Needless to add that President Macron does not travel in such splendour. Let us imagine what GHS2.8million could do for our country, particularly considering the mess in multiple sectors which has led to legitimate #FixTheCountryNow agitations by the youth. I have therefore filed an urgent question in Parliament to compel the Akufo-Addo administration to be accountable to the Ghanaian people on this matter and ultimately to prick their conscience to end this obscene profligacy at this time of considerable economic hardships. The African people deserve better from their leaders. Classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093

MTN Ghana Spreads Christmas Joy to New Mothers in Upper East Region

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GIPC Reaffirms Commitment to Retail Sector Transformation Under 24-Hour Economy Initiative

Ghana Introduces Prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Diaspora Awards

Artificial Rain and Chaos in Accra CBD as Fire Service Responds to Mass Breathing Difficulties

Ghana Health Service Warns of Increased Road Accident Risks During Christmas Festivities

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U.S. Extradition Request for Ken Ofori-Atta May Face Political Hurdles, Says Law Expert

NDC’s Hamza Suhuyini Urges Realism in Galamsey Fight, Citing Scale of Challenge

Dr. Bawumia Gets Unshakable Boost from Former Minister Bin Salih as NPP Primary Looms

EU takes Ghana off money laundering blacklist

“I was very disappointed in the result of the election in the Upper East Region–President Akufo-Addo

Akufo-Addo commission Bolga East Assembly building

Convert Binduri Community Day High School to boarding school– Zug-Raan appealed to government

UER: “Consider splitting the Bawku West district and constituency into two”-Zug-Raan, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II to government

Gov’t urged to offer GHS10k as business startup capital for final year tertiary students

We’ll use 2021 Census data to plan, develop more effectively; get involved – Akufo-Addo

MTN Ghana bags Seven awards at the 6th Finance Innovation Awards

Akufo-Addo convenes ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on Mali’s renewed political crisis

Akufo-Addo’s ‘luxurious’ economy-fixing private jet trips to Paris, Jo’burg cost GHS2.8m – Ablakwa

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