NPP Director of Communications Dennis Miracles Aboagye has challenged Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to produce the invoices and receipts for three chartered aircraft used to evacuate Ghanaians from South Africa, insisting that the documents are necessary to account for the reported cost of the operation.
Aboagye said the minister had provided manifests, boarding passes and receipts for commercial flights but had failed to produce the corresponding financial documents for the chartered aircraft, despite repeated assurances that he would do so.
He said the government had reported spending close to US$2.5 million, equivalent to about Ghc27 million, to charter three aircraft to bring approximately 956 Ghanaians home.
The NPP communicator questioned how the cost could reach about US$750,000 for each aircraft, arguing that the amount appeared excessive compared with information gathered from other sources.
“We went to check multiple sources. They said no, at most, even if it’s being doubled, it should be $300,000,” he said on Newsfile on JoyNews.
Aboagye claimed the difference suggested a possible overpricing of about US$450,000 and said the minister should settle the dispute by providing the original documents.
“We said, Minister, we want to give you the benefit of the doubt. Could you kindly give us the invoice for the plane you chartered and the receipt for the plane you chartered?” he said.
He added that the minister had promised to provide the documents but had yet to do so after two weeks.
“The easiest way to deal with all of these things is for you to produce the invoice and the receipt,” Aboagye said.
