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Harry Williams:
Prof. you spoke extensively on profligate expenditures. I know that the
NDC had criticised the NPP government’s decision to purchase two aircrafts.
I want to know what you intend to do with these aircrafts when you
come to power.
What has been your own view on the current spate of accidents in this
country?
Prof. Mills:
Sometimes we talk too much. See the experience that we had with a Presidential
jet, which sat on the tarmac for years; it was sold almost as scrap.
Personally, I wouldn’t go in and buy two planes. If we do have a plan, say
a previous government has committed itself and bought a plane and it is
available, and I come as President and decide that I am not going to use
it, am I not causing financial loss? Am I not misusing the resources of the
state? I will not have bought it, but it is available.
What I am saying is let’s look forward; we criticise, which we have every
right to do. The final decision rests with the government. We wouldn’t do
it, but it has been done. What do you do? You let it sit on the tarmac for
years only to sell it as scrap? I don’t think that we are being fair to the people
of Ghana. And I will want us to be very, very objective in this.
You know it was the same with the Presidential jet which we bought. They
made so many noises about it. They could not find any illegalities about it
but yet it was left to stand on the tarmac for scrap.
Regarding the spate of accidents; sometimes you ask yourself if we intentionally
create the problems for ourselves. I find it difficult to understand
how anybody can construct a road such that it rather creates traffic jams.
I don’t want to mention any particular locations but I know in one case it
can take you as much as 3 hours to go over a distance of 2 or 3 km.
Abdul Karim Hakeem, NUGS:
Prof, coming from the university, you will agree with me that there are lots
of blueprints over there, which if implemented, will at least take us from
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