Normal sharing of travel resources among West African leaders – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said it found regrettable the comment by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzetu Ablakwa on the use by the Liberian president of the Ghanaian presidential plane.

According to the ministry, although the MP tried to suggest that it is inappropriate to loan the presidential plane to George Oppong Weah, it is normal for countries to loan their planes to other heads of state.

In a statement, the ministry explained that in the framework of bilateral and multilateral diplomatic relations, various friendly states provide assistance in different forms.

“The government does not seek to waste state resources without reason, but focuses on pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy that promotes regional integration and good neighborliness in a climate of peace and stability. This ultimately benefits Ghana and West Africa as a whole, ”some parts of the statement read.

It comes after North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed he would demand responses from the Foreign Minister when Parliament resumed, on why the Liberian president was allowed to use the presidential jet .

The MP had said, in an interview with CitiNews, that the ministry should explain not only why the African leader received the jet, but also whether it would constitute a “double financial burden” for Ghana following the use by Akufo-Addo of another jet for his travels.

However, the ministry said that Ablakwa’s expectation for Ghana to bill the heads of state who received the jet shows his lack of understanding of the goodwill, camaraderie and cooperation that exists among the leaders. State of ECOWAS.

“At a time when Ghanaian leaders and citizens are championing a renewal of Pan-Africanism across the continent and the Diaspora (with the take-off of free trade under the AfCFTA), the Hon. The island posture of Okudzeto Ablakwa surprises the ministry.

The ministry added that “in light of the hard and concerted efforts of the leaders of ECOWAS to negotiate peace in the region, the ministry finds it rather regrettable that the Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa is reportedly deliberately trying to muddy the waters with these negative comments.