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Akufo-Addo never rented any private jet for domestic trips – Nitiwul
The former Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, has refuted claims that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo used private jets for domestic travel during his tenure.
Nitiwul’s remarks come in response to allegations made by the Majority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza who accused former President Akufo-Addo of renting private jets for his travels.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on January 22, 2025, regarding President John Dramani Mahama’s use of his brother’s private jet, Nitiwul clarified that while the former president Akufo-Addo occasionally used private jets for international travel beyond West Africa, such instances were limited, citing Emirates as an example.
“I’m not here to do propaganda. I want to say that former President Akufo-Addo has travelled on numerous occasions in the Emirates. On some of the occasions, he went with Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, former minister for Road and Highways, you can verify from him.
“It’s on record. I’m aware former President Akufo-Addo has travelled to the UK with British Airways, and Qatar Airways on numerous occasions. I’m just giving this information to Parliament and the House, and for it to enter the Hansard that former President Akufo-Addo has travelled on commercial aircraft several times, not once.
“Former President Akufo-Addo never rented any private jet to travel within the country, outside West Africa, yes, but in the country no.”
He also refuted claims that the former President did not use the official presidential aircraft.
“Former President Akufo-Addo has been using it for the last 8 months ever since it was returned from France.”
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Acting Spokesperson to President John Dramani Mahama, defended the President’s use of a private jet owned by his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for official trips to Senegal and The Gambia.
Responding to public criticism, Kwakye Ofosu clarified that the private jet has been available to President Mahama even before the 2024 general elections.
He emphasized that this arrangement incurs no cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer, as the jet was made available for the trips without charge.
Kwakye Ofosu also revealed that the official presidential aircraft is currently under review by the Communications Squadron, the Air Force unit responsible for its operation, hence the private jet use.
Source: Citinewsroom
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Electoral Commission to conduct Council of State elections
The Electoral Commission has open nominations for people aspiring to join the Council of State fill and contest.
In a statement issued by the Commission on January 22, 2025 noted,
“In accordance with Paragraph (C), Clause (2) of Article 89 of the 1992 Constitution.The Electoral Commission will conduct Elections to elect Regional Representatives to the Council of State.”
“Qualified persons who intend to stand for the said Elections should submit their Nomination Forms with two (2) copies of a recent bust sized photograph against a RED background showing their full face and ears. The Nomination Forms shall be submitted to the Regional Director of their respective Regions from Tuesday, 284h January, to Friday, 31s January, 2025, between the hours of 9.00 am and 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm each day,” it added.
Read the full statement below
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EC reacts to misleading video
The Electoral Commission (EC) has reacted to a misleading video circulating on Social media.
A statement issued indicated that “The Electoral Commission has noted with concern a video circulating on social media containing misleading information.”
According to the Commission,the said misleading video captures the destruction of Ballot Papers for the Ahafo and Volta regions as announced by the EC in the lead up to the 2024 General Election.
The destruction was carried out by Zoomlion at the instance of the EC.
“Unfortunately, the original audio of the said video has been muted and replaced with a voice making false claims. The individual is heard falsely stating that the EC-branded bags that contain Ballot Papers
meant for destruction rather contain dollars which are being smuggled by the New Patriotic Party (NPP),” they revealed.
“We entreat the Public to disregard the claims as they are false. To refresh the Public’s memory, the EC destroyed Ballot Papers printed for Ahafo and Volta regions due to serialization issues encountered with the aid Ballot Papers. The Ballots were destroyed by Zoomlion under the supervision of the Electoral Commission, that explains the presence of staff of the Electoral Commission and Zoomlion in the said video,” the EC noted.
“In the spirit of transparency that characterizes the Commission’s operations, the media were invited to cover the destruction. Certificates of destruction as well as the original video are available and serve to buttress the fact that the voice superimposed over the original video is peddling falsehood,” the statement concluded.
