The Deputy General Secretary of the United Party (UP), Nana Yaw Sarpong, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as the needless politicization of issues relating to the security of Ghana’s President.
Speaking on Joy Prime in reaction to news of the presidential jet’s return from France after undergoing repairs, he lamented the growing trend of turning matters of national security into partisan debates.
According to him, countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada treat the safety of their leaders with utmost seriousness, mobilising every necessary resource to ensure their protection.
He noted that in such countries, presidential travel is heavily fortified, with advanced aircraft and vehicles dedicated solely to safeguarding their leaders.
“We always talk about the United Kingdom and the United States and Canada and other places—they will marshal every force whatsoever to protect the life of the First Gentleman,” he said. “Even the vehicle they call The Beast has its own jet. So where did we go wrong as a nation that our security should become a political debate?”
Sarpong questioned why discussions about the presidential jet—whether regarding its repairs or its usage—have routinely become politically charged. He recalled past controversies, including intense criticism directed at former President John Agyekum Kufour when the jet was first ordered.
“Who ordered the presidential jet? Did he ever even sit in it? He did it for the good of the nation,” he stressed. “I recall how he was lambasted. I remember all the name-calling and the rules of engagement that were thrown at the old man. Was it of any good to us?”
He argued that instead of vilifying leaders for decisions aimed at strengthening national security, Ghanaians should appreciate the necessity of ensuring the President’s safety at all times. Turning security matters into political point-scoring, he warned, only weakens the nation’s stability and global image.
Sarpong urged the public and political actors alike to rise above partisan interests and support measures that secure the presidency, insisting that the safety of the nation’s leader should always remain a non-negotiable priority.
By Ebenezer Madugu
