The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has indicated that it considers the comment of North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzetu Ablakwa on the Liberian president’s use of the Ghanaian presidential jet to be unfortunate.

According to the ministry, while the MP tried to suggest that it was inappropriate to lend the presidential jet to George Oppong Weah, it was normal practice for countries to lend their planes to other heads of state.

In a press release, the ministry stated that various friendly states support each other in different ways within the framework of bilateral and multilateral diplomatic relations.

“The government does not seek willfully to waste state funds, but focuses on a pragmatic foreign policy that promotes regional integration and good neighborliness in a climate of peace and stability. Ultimately, this will benefit Ghana and West Africa as a whole, ”it says in parts of the declaration.

This came after North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that he would ask the Foreign Minister for some answers at the parliamentary re-session as to why the Liberian President was allowed to use the presidential jet.

The MP had said in an interview with CitiNews that the ministry not only needs to clarify why the African leader has been given the jet, but also whether it will be a “double financial burden” for Ghana after Akufo-Addo replaces another used Jet for his travels.

The ministry said, however, that Mr Ablakwa’s expectation that Ghana would bill the heads of state who were loaned the jet showed its lack of understanding of the goodwill, camaraderie and cooperation among ECOWAS heads of state.

“In an era when Ghana’s leadership and citizenship are advocating a renewal of Pan-Africanism across the continent and in the diaspora (with free trade taking off under the AfCFTA), Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa’s island stance comes as a surprise to the ministry.”

The ministry added: “Given the energetic and concerted efforts of ECOWAS leaders to broker peace in the region, the ministry finds it rather unfortunate that Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa would deliberately try to cloud the water with these negative comments.”