A member of the communications team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Roger TD Wills has justified the recent decision of the president to use his brother’s jet for his trip to South Korea.
Roger TD Wills makes the point that it would have been expensive for Ghana if the president had rented a jet for the trip; hence, the use of his brother’s jet led to cost-cutting.
He further stated that the president could not have travelled on a commercial jet, given the distance of the journey and the security issues he would have been subjected to by travelling on a commercial jet.
President Mahama received flak from some Ghanaians, including the Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, for the decision to use his brother’s jet.
But, TD Wills, who is an aspiring Deputy Communications Director of the NDC, said, “The president has the view of protecting the public purse; he has a very high interest in making sure he does not overspend. As a matter of fact, if we go and rent the jet, it would cost us so much.
“The distance from Ghana to South Korea, nonstop, is about 23 hours. Travelling by commercial jet would have been problematic for the president because of all the hurdles and security challenges he would have gone through.
“The presidential jet, the Falcon, in its current state, cannot cover that long distance; it is not fit for purpose. That was why his brother made his flight available.”
