Mahama’s Japan, Singapore trip was by commercial flight – Stan Dogbe

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Dogbe has dismissed the claims by the opposition MP for Old Tafo Constituency, Vincent Ekow Assafuah that President John Mahama has rented a luxurious private jet for his trip yesterday to Singapore and Japan.

In a Facebook post, the Deputy Chief of Staff said President Mahama embarked on the said trip on a commercial flight, adding that if the trip required a private jet, they will have gone for it “but not at an exorbitant cost to state” as former President Akufo-Addo did.

“President John Dramani Mahama is on his way to Japan on board a commercial airline from Accra’s Kotoka International Airport. There are right-thinking Ghanaians on board with him.

If the president’s trip requires a privately chartered aircraft and not his brother’s Dzata, which has saved the state huge sums of money, be sure that we will go for that, but not at an exorbitant cost to state.

Tell them to let President Akufo-Addo enjoy his retirement and stop drawing him needlessly into their candidate’s comatose campaign.” – He wrote

His post seeks to dismiss the false claims put out by the NPP, just after the Minister for Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, released a statement announcing the President’s official trip to the two countries.

Read what the Old Tafo MP wrote:

“This private jet, M-BAEP, left Accra this morning around 7 a.m. It is estimated to cost $15,000 per hour to rent this flight. A simple calculation shows that the 7 hour journey already covered amounts to $105,000.
If the flight proceeds to Japan, which is likely to take about 12 hours, that would be another $180,000.
If it then continues to Singapore, approximately 7 hours away, that would add another $105,000.

Finally, if the jet flies directly to Germany and then back to Accra a total of about 20 hours return trip that would add another $300,000.

Altogether, the cost comes to an incredible $690,000 without including waiting times and/or stopovers.
Damnnnnnn!!!!!!

The MP’s post and claims did not go down well with the media personality who sharply replied him three different post.

“A disgrace of an MP! Lying unintelligently, and worse still, never learns from his constant mix ups.
Amevlo!” – Mr. Dogbe fumes.

“This one here will also demand to be called ‘Honourable’!
Even if you are not street smart, it doesn’t take that much brain work to avoid embarrassing yourself, or?
The president was live on many TV networks between 10.30 am and 12.45 pm, attending the thanksgiving mass of Dr Edward Omane Boamah at the Christ the King Parish.
Did he take off in the supposed jet at 7.00 am and flew back for the 10.30 am mass?
I guess we have to ask his classmates how smart this guy was in his lower school days because… Eish!
This is not how to be relevant oooh! Vincent Ekow Assafuah, invest in reading and how to be politically relevant and stop disgracing MPs.
#ResettingGhana” – He added