The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has dismissed reports that the children of a close relative of President Akufo-Addo used the presidential jet for a shopping trip to UK in December, 2021.

In a statement dated January 9, signed by the Acting Director Public Relations, Commander Andy La-Anyane, GAF said the claims are untrue, frivolous and without any basis, adding that the jet has not been to Europe for a very long time.

“We believe that this unfortunate publication, which has been circulated widely, is a calculated effort to undermine the image of the Ghana Armed Forces in the eyes of the general public,” part of the statement read.

This is in reaction to allegations by the Executive Director of Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mr. Mensa Thompson.

In a post on Facebook, Mr. Thompson claimed that between the 20th and 30th of December, 2021, the children of a close relative of the President took Ghana’s Presidential Jet, the Falcon EX jet on a trip to the UK just to shop.

“They didn’t go alone they went with their friends and partied in the sky all through the trip, taking snap videos and flaunting their lucky adventure,” he stated.

“Ghana has spent close to half a billion dollars in the last two years renting private jets for our president while his family members continue to lavish in our rejected aircraft at the expense of the poor taxpayer,” Mr Thompson alleged.

However, the Ghana Armed Forces maintain that the claims are only a figment of someone’s imagination.

GAF added that the truth about the allegations can easily be verified “since there is always a task order for the movement of all Ghana Air Force platforms.”

They called on Ghanaians, especially politicians once again, not to drag the GAF into any partisan politics.

“The Ghana Air Force platforms will continue to be used for the interest of all Ghanaians, including its traditional role of maintaining fighter ground attack capabilities and providing close air support during operations, as well as providing transport support to the Ghana Armed Forces. We will continue to provide surveillance over the air space of Ghana and over the Exclusive Economic Zone of the country,” GAF added.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces has referred the matter to the Inspector General of Police for further investigations.