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Deputy Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mame Yaa Aboagye has hailed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his entourage to the Dubai Expo 2020 for boarding a commercial flight to the United Arab Emirates.

President Nana Akufo-Addo accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Alan Kyerematen, the Minister of Trade and Industry and officials of the Office of the President and Foreign Ministry took the Emirates to join the expo at Dubai.

According to reports, the President's entourage were twenty-seven in number.

He and his officials are scheduled to return to Ghana on Thursday, March 10.

President's Private Jet Criticisms

President Nana Akufo-Addo has in recent times been bombarded by intense criticisms for his penchant to board luxurious private jets which cost Ghana hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A major critic of the President's travels in private jets has been the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who recently claimed the President had been flying in luxurious private jets on international assignments at the expense of the tax payer.

On one of the President's trips, Mr. Ablakwa wrote;“The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT, is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as “the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets.”

It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately £15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it.

''President Akufo-Addo undoubtedly has the greatest taste any Ghanaian President has ever had, but the question is, should that insatiable appetite for his creature comforts be at the expense of the suffering masses?

''Let’s further analyze President Akufo-Addo’s latest trip to Europe: per Flightradar24, the G-KELT aircraft left Accra with the President to Paris on the 16th of May — a 6 and half hour duration. Airlifted the President from Paris to Johannesburg for 11 hours on the 23rd of May. Then Johannesburg to Accra on the 25th of May was a five and half hour flight. This gives us accumulated flight travel of 23 hours; so at £15,000 an hour, it thus cost us a colossal £345,000. At the current exchange, that is a staggering GHS2,828,432.80.''

Mame Yaa Aboagye Commends Prez

Mame Yaa Aboagye, commenting on the President's travel, asserted that the President isn't a leader who engages profligacy, hence his trips in private jets were necessary at the time he traveled.

She noted that the President going by Emirates is to also show his good leadership as well as tell the nation he is not a wasteful leader as the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa would have the populace to perceive.

''President Akufo-Addo has shamed his adversaries. His Excellency Nana Addo is a listening President who seeks the interest of all Ghanaians first before anything else. They and by they, I mean, the opposition party, particularly members of the Minority in Parliament with Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa leading that crusade of trying to deceive Ghanaians into thinking that the President is wasting the taxpayers' money on luxurious private jets; which isn't the case, is only giving Ghanaians a wrong impression about the President but they will never succeed in bringing him down.

''I believe the President boarding the Emirates has shown them that he isn't wasteful but rather he is a leader committed to making the lives of Ghanaians better, therefore doesn't mind taking a commercial flight. How many Presidents in the world board commercial flights for international assignments? Tell me; how many do this? Only President Akufo-Addo will do this.

''He has proven his great leadership, which one of the core values are to listen to your people, in all his works. His initiatives and policies since becoming President are also a testament to the good leader he is and the best party, the New Patriotic Party, is for Ghanaians'', she said.

She added; ''Did you see the simplicity in his relationship with the Ghanaian nationals in Dubai? This should further tell you about the President's personality. He is affable and always close to the people, paying rapt attention to their needs. Ghana is blessed to have President Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.''

Mame Yaa Aboagye ended her message by appealing to Ghanaians to support the NPP ''break the eight''.

''This is a party that should be voted for again in 2024 elections. The NDC has nothing better to offer Ghanaians'', she stressed.