Monrovia — President Joseph Boakai has defended his use of personal jets, describing it as a necessity quite than a misuse of public funds. The President made the assertion throughout an interview with BBC Newsday’s Victoria Uwonkunda, amid rising public scrutiny over his frequent use of chartered flights for each home and worldwide journey.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh [email protected]
“I don’t journey non-public jets simply because I wish to journey them, however there are events when it turns into vital,” President Boakai mentioned. “I can guarantee you that we aren’t right here to misuse sources for any goal.”
The President’s feedback are available response to widespread criticism, significantly from residents and critics who recall that Boakai himself had beforehand condemned former President George Weah for comparable practices.
Through the 2023 presidential elections, Weah’s use of personal jets grew to become a significant marketing campaign difficulty, contributing to his eventual defeat within the November run-off.
Since assuming workplace in January 2024, President Boakai has been seen utilizing non-public jets for official worldwide engagements and helicopters for journey to his hometown in Lofa County. These flights have sparked public concern over authorities spending at a time when Liberia continues to face vital financial challenges.
Including to the controversy was Vice President Jeremiah Koung, who was noticed aboard a personal jet simply weeks after the brand new administration took workplace.
Critics accused the Unity Occasion-led authorities of hypocrisy, having beforehand denounced such practices beneath the Weah administration. In response, Vice President Koung defined that the jet was not chartered by the federal government however supplied by a Ghanaian businessman who was additionally touring to Accra. Vice President Koung mentioned he was en path to Nigeria to characterize President Boakai on the Bayelsa State Governor’s inauguration.
Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana has additionally defended the usage of chartered flights by the President. Talking to reporters on the Government Mansion, she mentioned the follow is usually essential to keep away from the delays and inconveniences related to business journey.
Fofana defined that President Boakai has on a number of events skilled lengthy layovers and missed necessary occasions resulting from business flight schedules.
“Typically flying on chartered flights is out of necessity,” Fofana mentioned. “It is extremely necessary for the President to take action when he’s touring to a vital assembly inside a comparatively quick time. I’ve been with the President the place he spent as much as eight hours in transit, lacking essential worldwide engagements.”
She additional clarified that not all chartered flights utilized by the President are paid for with public funds, noting that some are sponsored by growth companions or overseas governments.
In a shocking twist, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, a vocal critic of former President Weah, has publicly apologized for beforehand condemning the usage of non-public jets. Talking on OK FM’s “OK Dialog” program, Senator Dillon admitted that he had underestimated the challenges of presidential journey.
“As Senator Darius Dillon, who campaigned in opposition to the usage of non-public jets by former President Weah, I wish to publicly apologize to him,” the senator mentioned. “We didn’t perceive the constraints, the explanations, and the justifications for utilizing non-public jets by the President of Liberia. We condemned President Weah unfairly.”
Senator Dillon added that acknowledging previous errors is critical to advertise honesty and accountability in public discourse. “We now see the necessity for the usage of non-public jets by the President, particularly when nationwide pursuits are at stake,” he mentioned.
