UNCTAD Trip: Bawumia’s colossal delegation questionable – Apaak

Dr. Clement Apaak has called on the Vice President to justify to Ghanaians the reasoning behind the 16-member delegation that followed him to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) last year.

It has emerged that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who was an invited special guest to the programme travelled to the conference with 16 people while other nations including China sent a delegation of at most 5 people.

Speaking on the Morning Starr Thursday, Dr. Apaak said it is surprising that an NPP government which trumpeted the need for value for money while in opposition, will send such a delegation to an event despite the hardship in the country.

“It is an indictment on them and that they cannot be taken seriously to protect the state purse in these critical times. I think Ghanaians have every right to ask questions as to why the veep had to move with such colossal delegation. In opposition, they kept asking for value for money in everything and so it is surprising that they are seeking to explain and justify these very high numbers.

“If you look at the list of the second lady too which has just come up, it appears there is a trend in this government. It is about time we are given information on such trips and if the people going really bring value to the nation,” the Builsa North MP told host Francis Abban.

Responding to the concerns, an aide to the Vice President Dr. Gideon Boako justified the size of the delegation noting that his boss went to the conference in his capacity as the Vice President of Ghana and therefore had to move within a standard protocol.

“If you look at the list superficially, on that score it might appear big compared to the other nations. Each year, apart from the key or normal participants who attend the conference, they also invite a special guest. So in the case of last year, they invited Dr. Bawumia so once our Vice President accepted the invitation and had to attend, he was supposed to go with his standard team including security personnel and aides who had different roles to play for the state once they got there”.