Government will publish cost details of president’s overseas travels – Herbert Krapa

The Akufo-Addo-led administration says it is ready to publish the full financial details of the president’s overseas visits.

Since assuming office on January 7, 2017, Nana Akufo-Addo has embarked on many trips abroad.

Some have questioned his actions wondering why he cannot delegate his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia or the Foreign Affairs Minister to represent him in some instances.

Already, a public accountability group, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) says it is readying to petition the Council of State over the matter.

Executive Director of ASEPA, Mensah Thompson is worried the development is draining the very public purse Nana Akufo-Addo promised to protect.

But responding to the criticisms on 3FM’s Midday News, government spokesperson on legal and governance, Herbert Krapa said: “This president has not travelled out of the country for a single time when it has not been as a matter of outmost importance to the Ghanaian People…I think that while it may be our legitimate right to express concern about the president’s travels out of the country, we must put the question in perspective and we must do an objective analysis of the situation and not just say, the president travels out of the country.”

When host, Kwakye Afreh-Nuamah questioned him on government’s willingness to tell Ghanaians about how much has been spent on the president’s travels so far, Herbert Krapa indicated:

“In the spirit of transparency and accountability, I think it is important for us to even open these things up for the Ghanaian people to be privy to it and I am sure in due course the government will make it available to the Ghanaian people if that is what we are asking for.”

Krapa who did not state the specific timelines for the release of these documents, concluded by linking the country’s “economic improvements” to the many travels by the head of state.

Both former presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Mahama came under scrutiny for their frequent travels. But in all instances, they described it as beneficial to the country’s progress.