Otumfuo flies out in Presidential Jet

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II flew out of the Kotoka International Airport on Thursday, 5th September, 2013 on a private visit to England.

GO's sources in London espied the venerable Otumfuo descend the presidential jet in London. Checks at the Kotoka International Airport from our usually reliable sources also confirm that indeed the occupant of the Golden Stool left that Thursday on the presidential jet.

The presidential jet is reported to have been placed at the disposal of the Asantehene such that it was dispatched to the Kumasi Airport to pick up the king to Accra enroute to England.

Manhyia Palace’s sources are tight lipped about the development.

Coming in the wake of the Asanteman Council's complaint to the National Media Commission over media reports that suggest that the revered king played a role in the outcome of the presidential petition, the Otumfuo Presidential Jet trip has left some wondering the propriety of the flight on the presidential jet at this time.

Others are raising questions as to why the tax payers' money should be used to buy aviation fuel and cover other costs of flying the presidential jet for a private trip of a monarch when there are other pressing national development needs which require savings on national expenditure to be made.

“The presidential jet does not even belong to the President but to the Ghana Air Force such that though the President is the Commander in Chief, he cannot deploy it in any manner he wishes to satisfy his ego, personal likes and fantasies,” one source who pleads anonymity told this paper.

Another question that is begging for an answer is whether it is the Otumfuo who requested of President Mahama to avail him the use of the presidential jet. It may also be that it is President Mahama who deployed the aircraft for the use of the king without the king asking for its use at all.

The King is known to have flown previously on an aircraft owned by presidential brother and business mogul Ibrahim Mahama.

Yet other questions are bobbing as to why the government or Manhyia Palace did not announce that the Otumfuo has had the presidential jet placed at his disposal for a trip to England.

Hints picked up by GO have it that unless the unexpected happens the King will definitely return to Ghana on the presidential jet.