O’Brien

THE PRESIDENTIAL JET DEBATE — MY PROUD LEGACY FOR GOD AND COUNTRY AND WHY DISHONEST SPIN AND HATE CAMPAIGNS CANNOT DEFEAT TRUTH 1. I remain extremely proud of my parliamentary oversight as Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, particularly on my legislative scrutiny of presidential travels. My principled position has not changed and will not change. It has always been for God and Country; 2. I am quite certain former President Akufo-Addo is also proud of the forceful arguments he made in Parliament as Ranking Member, specifically on 15th February, 2000 opposing plans by President Rawlings to purchase a new executive jet primarily on the basis that it wasn’t a priority. Ironically, his misguided hirelings and minions vilifying me conveniently conceal former President Akufo-Addo’s documented track record. (See attached the Parliamentary Hansard of February 15, 2000 containing Akufo-Addo’s revealing debate); 3. Former President Akufo-Addo didn’t think President Rawlings’ presidential jet acquisition should be exempt from the principles of prioritization, prudence, value for money and transparency — so what changed when he became President 17 years later? Why is Akufo-Addo’s conduct in 2000 commendable but my conduct between 2021 and 2024 condemnable? 4. Let me emphasize for the avoidance of doubt, I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever for leading a long-drawn-out successful patriotic campaign against former President Akufo-Addo’s unjustified, wasteful and extremely reckless ostentatious charter of ultra-luxury jets for US$18,000 an hour, particularly at a time Ghana’s presidential jet was available and in pristine condition; 5. My oversight mandate was strictly inspired by the national interest and the patriotic objective of protecting the public purse — consistent with former President Akufo-Addo’s own eloquent pledge; 6. I owe no one an apology for leading this consequential and noble oversight to protect taxpayers — I am confident the vast majority of Ghanaians are appreciative of my sacrifices — this is a legacy I will forever cherish. I did it in good conscience for my country and not for the praises of those who cannot look beyond their stomachs; 7. It is really comical that the very people demanding of me to apologize or resign are the same people trying so hard to emulate my actions — the overwhelming verdict by Ghanaians, however, is that, so far, the “wannabes” have been spectacularly disastrous. In all humility, I am now inundated with appeals from well-meaning Ghanaians asking that I urgently organize a workshop for the disgraced MPs. That is what happens when you are not motivated by truth, patriotism, diligence, principle, sincerity and the national interest; 8. I was long vindicated when President Akufo-Addo reluctantly listened to me and the good people of Ghana who were justifiably outraged by his profligate conduct and therefore had to stop the practice of renting ultra-luxury executive jets at taxpayer expense in his final year in office; 9. The dishonest hirelings would want us to forget that from the second half of 2023, all the way to the end of his tenure on January 6, 2025, President Akufo-Addo abandoned chartered travels and resorted to the use of Ghana’s Presidential Jet. Indeed, I had occasion to commend President Akufo-Addo for the positive change of mind — even though many have argued that he stopped the extravagant rentals because Ghana became bankrupt and went in for a $3billion IMF bailout under stringent conditions. (See my commendation of President Akufo-Addo attached); 10. That President Akufo-Addo relied exclusively on Ghana’s Presidential Jet for over 18 months until he left office confirms that I wasn’t wrong when I insisted that the Presidential Jet which was purchased by President Kufuor in 2008 for US$37million and used by the previous Mills and Mahama presidencies was fit for purpose; 11. This is why during the period President Akufo-Addo…