Audio Attachment:Listen to Minority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu followed by Majority leader Cletus Avoka in parliament. |
There was intense debate between Minority MPs and their Majority counterparts in Parliament over government�s intention to purchase five new aircrafts at a cost of of Euro 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 Presidency and the military, 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.
But the Majority in parliament has mounted a solid defence for its planned purchase of the five jets - 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.
According to the Majority, the time is right for the country to purchase more jets to facilitate the transportation of the President and enhance the activities of the military.
The Minority have however dismissed the argument advanced by the Majority, accusing them of dishonesty and hypocrisy.
According to the Minority, the Mills led administration are not living up to their tenets of a social democrat party that they have been trumpeting.
The Minority, led by Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, pointed out that the NDC, then in opposition, vehemently opposed and condemned President Kufuor�s move to purchase a similar aircraft which would have cost the country less than the estimated $105,370, 177.09 of the Embraer aircraft.
According to the Suame MP, the NDC in the run up to the 2008 Presidential elections stridently accused President Kufuor of profligate spending and wasting the country�s resources on aircrafts when the citizenry were impoverished and malnourished.
However, the majority opines that the nation�s military aircraft are aging and the time is right for the country to purchase new aircraft.
Source: citifmonline.com
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