Ghanaians have every right to question cost of presidential travels – Adib Sani

Security expert Adib Sani has contended that Ghanaians have every right to question the cost of the president’s travel expenses contrary to what the Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior, Mr Bryan Acheampong has said.

Bryan Acheampong, during a session in parliament mentioned that Ghanaians must not focus on the cost of the President’s travels. Rather, the focus should be on the safety of the President anytime he travels outside the country.

But Adib Sani reacting to this comment told Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show: “We have every right to question the cost of presidential travels unless maybe it is a secret mission that is not supposed to be known. But if it is an ECOWAS summit or any international event, it is within the right of Ghanaians as enshrined by the law to demand accountability from politicians.”

The security expert observed that very often Ghanaians feel politicians are supposed to be worshipped. Hence, they fail to demand accountability from these politicians who are supposed to be serving the country.

“We put the politicians where they are and they must account for it because we finance every single thing to the last pesewa. So, when I see people celebrate a politician for asphalting the roads, it shows us the level of low expectation Ghanaians have. Our expectations are despicable. It is the responsibility of politicians to use our money to construct roads and toilet facilities,” he added.

Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior, has said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s foreign travels must be classified top secret.

The Minister’s comments come after the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, filed two other urgent questions demanding disclosure of the full cost of the President’s foreign trips without using the official presidential jet.

During the debate on 2022 budget statement in Parliament, Bryan Acheampong said the NDC MP’s questions were needless.

He stated that the focus should rather be on the safety of the President anytime he travels outside the country and not the cost of his travels.