Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide has stated that Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, did answer the question posed by Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, ascertaining if the existing presidential jet was in good condition and airworthy.
Baako’s response followed a writ proposed by the North Tongu lawmaker of the Defense Minister to answer questions on the soundness of the state jet the President of the Republic was supposed to travel in on his recent European tour.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was reported to have rejected the presidential aircraft owned by the state to rent a luxurious jet from Acropolis Aviation.
Reacting to the issue on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Thursday, June 17, 2021, Abdul Kweku Baako said in answering the questions, the Defense Minister did indicate that the Falcon jet was serviceable and it was airworthy.
“Did the minister of defense answer this question or not? He did. He agreed that the Falcon was serviceable. It was airworthy. It was available and then gave reasons why the president did not travel with it,” Mr. Baako added.
Elaborating on his point, Mr. Baako indicated that he found nothing wrong with the written answers provided by the Defence Minister stating that, the other responses were motivated by additional questions that were asked.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with this written response. But apparently, other responses were triggered by supplementary questions because those things about bathrooms and all the rest are not here” he noted.
Mr. Baako, however, noted that the acquisition of a video clip of the answering session in parliament allows for comprehensive assessment more than just a written response. “And usually when you want to do a proper analysis of parliamentary question-answer, it is when you get the video itself and then perhaps it’s on the parliamentary website” he added.
The astute communicator explained that even though Mr. Ablakwa’s questions required a written response, Nitiwul provided a detailed response because the nature of the question may require an oral or written response.
“But the minister knew and everybody who studies parliamentary procedure knows that when you come with a written response, subsequent to your answer, there will be supplementary questions allowed by the speaker and then that brings out other details” Mr. Baako concluded.
By: Ernest Tetteh Kabu | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
