Director of Business Operations at Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson has scolded government over its resolve to purchase a new presidential jet; stating that the timing is wrong.
According to the financial analyst, although he acknowledges the president’s need to travel comfortably, it would be economically unwise for any government to think of purchasing a new presidential at this material moment given the financial challenges the country is grappling with as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the introduction of taxes.
“The President is our ambassador in chief and that he needs to travel and he needs to go and come back with a reasonable level of comfort; it is undisputed. It is also undisputed that we are in financial difficulties; I have said over and over that this country is broke. It is not about presidential jet alone, the challenge is simply about timing,” he told Samuel Mbura in an interview on A1 Radio.
“The question I will ask the Defence Minister and anyone else is; could we have chosen a better time to announce or purchase this jet. Is the timing right especially at a time when Ghanaians are concerned about the increasing taxes that we are about to pay? Is the purchase of a new jet at this particular time right?” he pressed.
The Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, while answering questions from North Tongu MP, Samuel OKudzeto Ablakwa who wanted confirmation on revelation by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, that government is planning on buying a new jet, disclosed that consultations with Parliament, trade unions as well as religious leaders are ongoing for the purchase of a new presidential jet. He said move was taken upon the request of the Ghana Armed Forces for the purchase of a main aircraft for the government’s business.
But Mr. Jackson viewed the move as a bad one as he wants the government to share the burden the masses are going through. He stressed that “the timing of the initiative is bad”.
Touching on the recent happenings in Parliament regarding the acceptance or otherwise of the 2022 budget, Mr. Jackson stated that it is not surprising but quickly appealed to parliamentarians to allow cool heads to prevail.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz| Elijah Beyeni Yenibey|Ghana
