Richard Ahiagbah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on government to be transparent and provide satisfactory answers to concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament over the mission of the presence of two foreign aircraft in Ghana.
In a statement issued and signed on Sunday, April 6, 2025 by the Director of Communications of the party, Richard Ahiagbah described the explanation given by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu on the foreign aircraft AirMed flight N823AM and Cavok Air Antonov An-12B in Ghana as unsatisfactory considering their origin.
It said, “Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s explanation regarding the aircraft presence and operations in Ghana has not met public expectations. His response was scanty and primarily defensive, deepening public suspicion and concern. Curiously, both aircraft developed faults while in Ghana.”
According to the NPP, the story about the two jets is baffling, and the idea that government will politicise citizens’ legitimate desire to know that the aircraft were not on an illegal mission reinforces the suspicion that the government explanation is contrived, and therefore condemned government intimidation of the Minority over the issue.
It said that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has also urged the government to investigate the flight’s mission, and expect a detailed and professional response from the government led by the appropriate security agencies regarding the mission and cargo on board the two aircraft.
“In addition, we demand the government provide an update on the status of two major drug trafficking cases: the $350 million cocaine bust in Cape Coast and the $150 million cocaine seizure in Sekondi, allegedly belonging to a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC),” it added.
It further stated that the explanation offered by Mr. Kwakye Ofosu failed to address the request for an update on those drugs, adding that the silence on those high-profile arrests undermines public trust, particularly given the alleged involvement of a senior member of the NDC.
“We wish to caution the government that it should not trivialise issues concerning drug trafficking and money laundering as we have witnessed thus far,” it pointed out.
The party mentioned that they were matters of international interest, with Ghana’s credibility and compliance and international obligations at stake.
“The international community is observing closely and Ghana cannot afford the perception of complicity or institutional failure in confronting trans-national crime because of intolerance and lack of openness of the John Mahama administration. We will not relent in our duty to hold this government accountable,” it added.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah