GAF Rebut "Palaver" Story

The Ghana Armed Forces has rebutted claim in the ?Ghana Palaver? newspaper that Chief of Staff Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim, used a Ghana Air Force Aircraft to carry mourners from Accra to Kumasi to the funeral of his late father.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations, Colonel E. W. K. Nibo, described the said news item which was in the ?Ghana Palaver Intelligence? column in the 22nd -24th June 2004 edition, as ?outrageous and absolutely false.?

The ?Ghana Palaver? has published that mourners including about 20 NPP MPs were lifted from the Air Force Station in Accra to Kumasi for the burial of the father of the Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim, Chief of Staff.

Ghana Palaver added that, the said authorisation was at the instance of President Kufuor and that it was a ?most insensitive and reckless display of opulence and extravagance? for the aircraft to be used.

?We would like to state categorically that the information is outrageous and absolutely false,? the statement stated emphatically.

?There was no task order authorising the Air Force to convey mourners to Kumasi for the funeral of the late father of Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim, neither was there any request from Mr. Kwadwo Mpianim to the Air Force for such assistance,? the statement further noted.