Former Minister for Power, Dr Kwabena Donkor has said Ghana’s security under the watch of President Nana Akufo Addo is very week and threatened, if indeed some helicopters purchased by the erstwhile Mahama administration for Ghana Gas have gone missing.
According to him, Ghana’s security is in wrong hands if such heavy military accoutrement painted in Ghana Air Force colours cannot be accounted for.
There have been reports that three helicopters for Ghana Gas Company purchased at a cost of 150 million dollars by the previous government are missing.
The co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr. Steve Manteaw who is also a member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) said “sources close to Ghana Gas revealed that indeed the helicopters were bought and that they are being kept somewhere” adding “and I’m not too sure where…”
He added: “so it is early days yet to conclude that they are missing and that for now we just couldn’t find them at the project but it does not mean that they are missing. So we just need to find out where they are and in which condition and shape they are in now.”
But speaking on Kasapa FM Wednesday, Dr Kwabena Donkor who doubted the veracity of the claims said if the helicopters could go missing, then it means Ghana Armed Forces weapons and artillery could equally go missing, a development which will be dire for the country’s security.
“This claim of missing helicopters has serious international implications, maybe we have not averted our minds to it. These are not matters that should be discussed in the public domainIf there’s a country that wants to support Ghana by donating sophisticated weapons and other military accoutrements, that country will hesitate as the donor will fear the weapons could go missing and get into the hands of terrorists.”
He added that it shouldn’t be difficult for anyone to locate the said helicopters as they are kept with the Ghana Air Force which has the expertise to manage them.
“I’m baffled by this claim, if we put out such baseless statements into the public domain, we inadvertently disagrace the Ghana Armed Forces which is regarded highly in Africa and the rest of the world because the helicopters are safe in their custody. What stops anyone from first contacting the Ghana Air Force before churning out such falsehood. If this has not been done I’m not sure we’re being fair to Ghana. The biggest indictment is on the Ghana Air Force. This is not an NDC or NPP matter, this is about national security.”
Source: kasapafmonline.com
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if i were you i will never talk about anything to do with this country. when i am called by the media i will say no comment. why? because anytime you open your mouth to talk, you spew unprintable words. you became minister and what did you do. who are you to talk koraa in this country or talk about Akufo-Addo's government. keep quiet and let's think wai.
I am surprised about the comments by Dr. Donkor. The ministry he headed has apparently been used to create a lot of dubious deals against the people of Ghana. If Ghana Gas did not have the resources for the use of a helicopter, why purchase it? Couldn't the helicopters have been bought by the Ghana armed Forces with all the reasons and they will use it for their monitoring. So who is using the helicopters now. What duties are the helicopters being used for. Is it possible the Ghana Armed Forces will be using the helicopters for its own operations? Pilots from the Air Force could have been seconded to Ghana Gas to be in charge of the helicopters. If Ghana Gas was not well resourced why was there a rush to purchase the helicopters at all cost? Does Ghana Gas maintain an Assets Register? at least if there is a register the location of the asset should have been recorded. This would have curtailed all speculations. The then Minister has rather failed Ghanaians for the decision to buy helicopters for Ghana Gas to be used for survillance in the Oil and Gas industry in Ghana. This is uncalled for. The former Minister must let us know how much the Ghana armed Forces is charging Ghana Gas to maintain these helicopters. All these charges go to increase the oost of electricity paid by Ghanaians. Dr Donkor please sit back and reflect on the whole situation and I am sure you will regret for all you have done and said on this issue. Was this mentioned in the handing over notes of the Ministry of Power at all? WHAT A SHAME. THIS IS A SHAME
MR DONKOR SHOUT UP.YOU BOUGHT HELICOPTER FOR USD150MILLION,ARE YOU CRAZY?NANA ADDO HAS BEEN VERY SLOW THAT'S WHY THE NDC PEOPLE ARE TALKING.MAHAMA USED THE HELICOPTER FOR 2016 CAMPAIGN.INCOMPETENT MAN YOU PROMISED TO END DUMSOR,WHERE YOU ABLE TO DO IT?CORRUPT MAN LIKE YOU.YOU MADE THAT PROMISE JUST BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO STEAL FROM US. BUT MR DONKOR GET READY BECAUSE GHANAIANS WILL COME AFTER YOU.
What a funny country we live in.Sio what was the said helicopters bought for?If they were bought for surveillance of our our fields and the Gas Company does not have the facilities to keep them why are they not somewhere in Takoradi at the Air Force Base which would be nearer to the facilities they are supposed to be guarding?And how can 3 helicopters cost $150 million when these days a 12 year old can tell you the price range of all manner of helicopters by simply clicking a button on his mobile phone.This man supervised contracts that has made you and I pay amounts for electricity that we cannot afford to pay.The NDC is the worst thing that ever happened to this country .And under Mahama an already horrible organisation became a vehicle for th13very that is uncommon even on a continent that has nurtured some notorious political th13ves.
What is the meaning of "security is very week"? As for this arrogant and INCOMPETENT NDC ***barred word*** Kwabena Donkor the least said about him the better.
Nana Akufo Addo you have to be serious okay its seems you are joking ......
Massa; like most stilling fishing expedition by civil servants ; CEO's and other government officials when things are stolen including huge funds from projects including this helicopter ; the intention is to hold the funds quietly on escrow account untill the matter dies down or nobody asks questions and then these government officials go and share their stolen funds ; the same with the helipcopter ;this has been gouing on for years including the Bank of Ghana ; the truth is that these NDC kriminals cannot still cash so they purchase these helicopters on the account of the Gas Company ; then go and hide them hoping that this will never be investigated and then they sell them at a later date on the cheap ; three helicopters will be sold very cheap may be $15million each for quick cash besides a helicopter cannot dissappear into thin air ; if INTERPOL is informed and detail given the wherabouts the helipcopters will be traced because the intention by Ndc is to sell them otr it has aleardy been sold by the NDc and cash shared amongst ministers and Jon Mahama .
Go and ask Mr Adam and Domelo for the missing Helicopters,may be they have change the vin numbers , respray them and sell among themselves
What civility is required in this...?? Simple, how can the NDC go buy helicopters for a government agency who have no capacity to manage it..and..needs to go store it somewhere..?? Virtually the Helicopters are recorded in the inventory list of Ghana Gas but cannot be found there..hence declared missing. If you wear a woman a ring showing you've married her and she leaves her ring at home..then someone out there can declare her as single..what proves she's married..??
gentleman,please lets be civil here and use our head not our heart. The question here is,are the helicopters missing or they are at Ghana armed forces. we should be serious for once in this country and stop this childish propaganda. Grow up man