Editorial: Gulfstream GIII, Ghana Air Force, rumours and parliamentary approval

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) last Thursday May 25, 2006, without any provocation, sent out invitations to various media houses in the national capital, Accra, to attend a press conference for the purpose of putting in a word or perhaps tidying up the mess that is fast swallowing government officials over the disposal of Gulfstream GIII with serial number 0493, until recently in the custody of the Ghana Air Force.

Journalists and other Ghanaians desirous of finding out the truth trooped to the Conference Hall at the Burma Camp, slated to be the venue for the press briefing. They were to be disappointed.

They were told ?some operational exigencies? made it impossible for their Service Chiefs to be present and therefore they were to return to their bases to be re-commandeered later.

But before long, the Armed Forces had recalled several radio, television and press houses once more to their Burma Camp base for a ?press briefing on the transaction involving the Gulfstream III Aircraft (former Presidential Jet)? and perhaps what they had been up to as far as that Gulfstream GIII with registration number 0493 was concerned.

In fact, even though as far as The Chronicle was concerned the soldiers had nothing edifying to say on the issues arising from the disposal of the jet and the acquisition of four K-8 military aircrafts and one K-8 flight simulator for the Ghana Air Force, we obliged them with our presence since we were still opened to all explanations on the transaction.

But once more, the military disappointed their invitees in what looks like a show of a clean pair of heels. This time round, no reason whatsoever was given.

But even as the military performed its vanishing acts at their own base, the Minister of Information and National Orientation continued with his speculation on not just the rumour of the jet having been procured for the former president as his end of service benefit (ESB), but also of the real value of the Gulfstream GIII 0493.

The minister?s responses to questions on radio yesterday could be charitably described as laughable; for even though the jet involved in the scandalous controversy had since been flown to its ?new Chinese owners?, he still wants Ghanaians to believe that the transaction had not been concluded.

We do appreciate how gullible Ghanaians can sometimes be in their politically polarized state, but Mr. Bartels must know that Ghanaians cannot be deceived at all times and do the honourable thing of accepting that at least on this matter, the government has erred.

His explanation that the transaction had not been presented to parliament as yet because it had not been finalized may appear reasonable, but the question is: if prior parliamentary approval is necessary under our Constitution before any such agreements could be implemented, on what authority was the jet flown out when the minister is saying the agreement is inconclusive for it to be laid before parliament?

His confidence about the unlikelihood of Parliament disapproving the transaction is not surprising as Ghanaians have on several occasions seen the overwhelming majority that his party has in Parliament deployed to the support of Bills to the chagrin of many Ghanaians.

The claim that the Gulfstream GIII was sold for $5million based on a valuation by an internationally acclaimed valuation firm has also come under dispute.

Already, it has become clear that the value placed on the jet in the pawn was speculative and that Conclive and de Decker, described as ?internationally acclaimed valuers?, do not value aircrafts at all.

A Minister of Information?s words ought to carry weight and be taken serious. It is too early in the day of his appointment for Mr. Bartels to start undermining his own office by indulging in rumour-mongering, speculations and withholding of information from the public.

It is significant that although the information minister finds defence matters confidential and unworthy of public scrutiny, the Armed Forces twice tried baring out what they know ? or at least have been told to say!

The Chronicle wishes to admonish the minister, and the government for that matter, to come clean on the issue to restore the dwindling trust and confidence that the masses are developing for politicians and the government.