Minority Leader Should Be Dealt With Severely If�- Kwesi Pratt

Editor of the Insight newspaper, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has implored government to launch investigations into allegations made by the Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu that some people within the Mills-Mahama administration stand to profit financially from the purchase of five jets for the military. The Minority Leader is said to have stated that some elements within the government have planned to pocket $59 million dollars if the deal to acquire 5 aircraft by government pulls through. There was intense debate between Minority MPs and their Majority counterparts in Parliament on Thursday, July 21st, over government�s intention to purchase five new aircrafts at a cost of �71 million and $105,370, 177.09. The Minority in Parliament questioned the propriety of the Mills administration's decision to purchase five aircraft for the Ghana Air Force (GAF), arguing that their purchase could have an adverse effect on the economy. The Minority also thinks the sums quoted for the aircraft have been inflated by government. Speaking as a panelist on Radio Gold�s �Alhaji and Alhaji� programme on Saturday, the seasoned journalist stressed that anyone involved in the plan to profit financially from the purchase of the jets as claimed by the Minority Leader, should be investigated and arrested. According to him, if after the investigations, it turns out that the allegation by the Hon. Minority Leader said is untrue and cannot be substantiated, he should be dealt with severely to serve as an a �deterrent� to others. ��this allegation made by Kyei Mensah Bonsu should not be taken lightly�let�s find those private pockets, let�s find those individuals who want to cause financial loss to the state and deal with them according to the laws of Ghana. If, on the other hand, it is established that he was just being reckless, then he must also be dealt with severely to serve as a deterrent to reckless politicians in our country, because one cannot take this for granted...� Kwesi Pratt said. To him, the furore over government�s decision to purchase five jets for the military should cease with Ghanaians asking themselves whether the country�s Armed Forces is needed, and if the answer is positive then the state cannot keep on buying �pick-up trucks� for them. ��they need planes�They must be equipped and part of the equipping is aircraft�,� he said.