Aircraft Purchase Must Be Properly Explained � Kofi Adams

A Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Kofi Adams, has hit out at the government and called on the Mills administration to properly explain its intention to purchase five new aircrafts at a cost of 71 million Euro and $105,370, 177.09. According to Kofi Adams, also the spokesperson of ex President Rawlings, the questions being raised by the minority needs to be answered properly for the good of the NDC in the eyes of the electorate. Mr. Adams� comments follow Parliament�s passage of a decision by government to purchase five new aircrafts - an Embraer E 190 jet with a hanger costing $105,370, 177.09, two BA 42 Guardian Surveillance costing �11 million and another two CT95 aircraft costing �60 million for the military and the presidency. Speaking on Citi Fm�s Saturday Political Talk Show �the Big Issue� Mr. Adams stated that although it is a good decision for the nation�s military to be well equipped, the lingering questions must be answered first. �It is unfortunate that it has come this far, but once it has come out we must not be full headed and bury our heads in the sand and think that it does not matter. We should be able to explain in details why the hanger is going 17 million as against the figures that others are quoting. �What I have heard is that the hanger is a garage being sold for 17 million dollars and it is doing a lot of damage to us as a political party so I expect the executive to come out strongly and explain the difference between the minority is quoting what the government is saying". The Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Otchere Darko accused the NDC government of being disingenuous. He said it was surprising how the NDC then in opposition accused ex President Kufuor of profligate spending in his attempt to purchase similar aircrafts for the military. However, a Deputy Energy Minister, Inusah Fuseini in a response said the Embraer 190 SAA being purchased by the NDC government comes with specifications different from the price quoted on the manufacturer�s website and much better than the one intended to be purchased by ex President Kufuor.