Presidential what? Is the Gov't Losing It? (II)

In part one of this series, I argued that government’s decision to acquire Executive Jets, otherwise known as the Presidential Jets, is not bad in principle, but it is not the country’s priority,—at the moment—considering the many challenges that confront the nation. It appears, however, that I am wrong, because government officials do not agree with me. According to Defense Minister, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah “the acquisition is not only necessary but also a state priority.”

I have read four of the statements issued so far from government sources either justifying the decision to purchase the jets or denying certain statements made in some sections of the media. Unfortunately, however, the more these statements come out, the more they confuse the public. For now, I am not sure if government intends to buy the jets, whether government has ordered the jets, or, even whether government has already bought and paid for the jets.

The impression created by the Press Secretary to the President, Mr. Andrew Awuni, when he recently released a press statement on the purchase—or otherwise—of the jets was that government had not ordered the jets but, instead, had “put before Parliament an elaborate and comprehensive request from the Ghana Air Force for re-equipping its communications squadron.” Mr. Kan Dapaah, on the other hand, claims that the jets have been paid for with a soft loan from China which, I believe, will take the already cash-trapped Ghanaian tax-payer about twenty-five (25) years to offset. The earlier statement from Dr. Kofi Konadu-Apraku strongly argued that the jets had not been paid for. However, in the latest twist to this melodramatic episode, the Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin says that the government has already paid five percent of the bill for the two jets.

Now, this is the part that confuses me the more. Mr. Kwamena Bartels argues that the budget for the jets is different from that of the six military aircraft. Mr. Awuni says the budget covers the purchase of about six military aircraft, including two Y121 military planes, two MA60 passenger planes, one Airbus Jet 319, and one Falcon 900, totaling about 100 million, while Dr. Apraku agrees with Mr. Bartels that the 37 million dollars—for the purchase of the Presidential Jet—is different from the budget that covers the fleet of aircraft to be bought for the military. Do you see what I see?

Perhaps, government has altruistic intentions for acquiring these jets, but these conflicting statements that have moved back and forth have not confirmed these intentions. I am not sure about what is happening, but, perhaps, it would have been better if these statements had come from an individual. But, let’s characterize these as the usual human errors that bug the flow of communication in any communication process. Even with that excuse government has not really justified why it so badly wants to acquire these jets at this time when there are more pressing issues.

Arguing why the purchase of the jets is both a necessity and a priority, Mr. Kan Dapaah says that “an order for the planes must be placed now to ensure delivery by the 2010 deadline, unlike off-the-shelf items that could be bought over the counter” adding that “the norm, since independence, has been that ‘presidential jets’ have been provided as part of the Army’s stock, and that First President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah even had more than two.”

Why is Mr. Kan Dapaah making this issue look like a life-and-death situation? Will Ghana collapse if it failed to acquire a Presidential Jet between now and 2010? Will the President fail to travel if and when the jets are not bought by the said deadline? Will Ghanaians die if the jets are not bought by the said deadline? And what is this Nkrumah argument? If Nkrumah had two, should we be compelled, at all cost, to also get one or two, even when the conditions do not permit? Under what conditions did Nkrumah have two? Under what conditions are we purchasing these jets?

Please, please, please, let’s not use norms and standards as the basis for acquiring these jets. We will be in danger of setting a bad precedent! It is also important that we do not make any further mockery of the suffering, poor Ghanaians. There are several questions that government needs to answer about its decision to purchase these jets. It appears the view that the government wants to respond to a request from the Ghana Air Force to re-equip its “communications squadron” has been a safe haven for government, as this view blurs the argument for the purchase of the Presidential Jet.

Government needs to answer the following questions: First, how will these planes be financed? Sources indicate that the loan facility secured from Societe Generale to finance the purchase of the 12-seater Falcon jet (one of the two presidential jets), will cover only 85 percent of the total cost. 5%, according to sources, has already been paid for, but the remaining 10 percent will be financed from the Consolidated Fund of Ghana. Is part of this not from national coffers?

Now, let’s even take it that it’s a loan; is a loan not payable? Is it a grant? Why the jamboree? In any case, why would you be so glad about securing a loan to pay for these jets, at this time, when generations yet unborn will continue paying this debt? Haven’t we had enough of loans? Second, besides the view that there is a deadline for the purchase of these jets, what other reason(s) does government have for wanting to acquire these jets now, and not later? Third, why does government think this is the most important national assignment, for which the masses will suffer, if not undertaken?

Some supporters of this decision argue that it is embarrassing for the President of the Republic to travel on a commercial plane, adding that it does not project the image of the country. Such a view, however, begs the question. Nobody is against measures that will enhance the safety of the President—because the current President might not even enjoy this facility before he leaves office when the jets are bought—neither is anybody against the projection of Ghana’s positive image. The issue is about priority and timing. What is more embarrassing? A country whose President does not fly in his own private jet or a country whose people struggle to have three square meals a day?

When people rush to say that several African countries or others elsewhere have Presidential Jets, they should consider two issues. 42% of people who live in those countries do not live below the poverty line. In most cases, it is 15% who do, but that is considered even too high. It is also important for those who make that same argument to check the poverty statistics of the African countries that have Presidential Jets. The masses, in such countries, live in abject penury while their leaders live in an extravaganza of opulence.

It is important for me to state that the idea of a private jet for a President is not bad in itself; in fact, it is a novelty. It may be a good argument both about security and convenience, but that should not override important national concerns: poverty, healthcare, education, employment, human resource development, provision of water, and many other issues that should be on any government’s priority list. The purchase of a Presidential Jet is not a priority. If Mr. Kan Dapaah says it is a priority, my question is: priority for whom? For the privileged class, when the majority of Ghanaians suffer? Mr. Kan Dapaah, I disagree with you!

As I said in part one of this series, our politicians soon forget who brought them to power. Instead of getting down to the business of governance, government is resorting to the business of comfort, opulence, and executive convenience. Government seems to be losing it, but, I believe, all is not lost yet. This is the best opportunity for government to prove that it is attentive to the public outcry against this decision, by suspending this purchase until the business of governance is done, if not completed.

The NDC caucus in Parliament, led by Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin has already begun making political capital out of this situation, as usual, projecting its image as the party that will provide the best alternative. We have seen this before, haven’t we? It is a script which is being re-written. The noise-making will go on, but nothing will be done. Perhaps, they will prove me wrong. Ghanaians are watching, but even if they are not watching, God is! Let’s see what elections 2008 will bring!

The text for this piece is set to American English

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.