Professor Evans Akwasi Gyasi, Associate Professor in International Trade and Director of the Trade Growth Network, has described President John Mahama’s recent use of a commercial flight as a cost-saving but unsustainable measure for Ghana.
Speaking on JoyPrime’s Prime Morning, Prof Gyasi said the President’s decision to board an Emirates flight to Japan helped the state avoid the high costs of chartering private jets. He commended the move as a smart short-term response to the country’s economic challenges.
“Looking at the financial constraints that we find ourselves in, I think it is up to the Ghanaian people to decide which way to go. In the short term, we may save a few thousand dollars if the President chooses commercial flights,” he stated.
However, Prof Gyasi warned that relying on commercial airlines for presidential travel poses serious long-term safety and security concerns. He added that Ghana’s global reputation could also be undermined if its Head of State continues to rely on such arrangements due to the unsafe condition of the current presidential jet.
“In the long term, at what cost do we want to do that? We are talking about the reputation of the country and the danger we put the President in,” he cautioned.
The Trade Growth Network Director emphasized the need for a sustainable solution, urging that if the Falcon 900EX presidential jet is no longer fit for purpose, the government should consider replacing it with a new aircraft.
