POLITICS

Minority kicks against $11m binoculars loan

The Minority in Parliament have opposed an $11,040,425 million loan request for the purchase of Night Vision Binoculars and Monoculars for the Ghana Armed Forces.

The amount is a down payment to the supplier FInanciere DUC, Luxembourg after a contract was signed with government of Ghana.

According to Parliament’s Finance Committee, the equipment and accessories will be used by the military to defend the territorial waters of Ghana.

The Committee had previously proposed $66 million but had to divide the project into three phases – each due to funding challenges.

Each equipment is expected to cost $6,850.

Left livid by the millions being sort in loan for the equipment they believe can be purchased at a lower price, the Minority refused to back the deal.

Builsa North MP, James Agalga said the prices being offered are ridiculous.

With just a cursory search on online trading platform E-Bay, the MP said he found same equipment being sold at a far lower price than has been stated in the deal.

“You’ll find some as low as $1,000 and the highest is around $3,000 but we are being told that we are going to buy them at $6,850. That is why this report should indicate the exact specifications of the equipment.

“That is very important because these days, all these accessories are on the internet. You don’t need to go to a shop to buy them,” he added.

He wondered “how can we tax Ghanaians and waste it in the way that we are proposing to do.”

Mr. Agalga wanted the Finance Committee to withdraw the proposal, reassess the deal again and come back to the House with better information because the current one is flawed.

He said while is not against the equipping of the Armed Forces, “we owe the taxpayer the responsibility to ensure that there is value for money when we are engaged in these purchases.

“We should not say because it is the military, we will gloss over everything,” he lamented.

But the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul disagreed with the MP.

He said the equipment are the best for the purposes they are intended to be used for.

He agreed there are cheaper models but said “that is not what any Armed Forces will use. Armed Forces of Ghana have a standard and are held to those standards.

“Before the Armed Forces purchase any equipment they go to inspect it first. So the Armed forces of Ghana are not the type that will go on the internet to buy equipment,” he added.

He stressed the standards of the Armed Forces cannot be lowered and they cannot purchase anything that is less than the quality of western type.

“The men and women of the Armed Forces are those who will do the purchases and government will do the payment and we should trust them to do the right thing.

“Defence is not a normal Ministry where the Minster will go and be doing purchases.”

In his view, the $6,850 price tag is the lowest in the market “for a very good night vision goggle and the type of equipment we are looking for.”

Despite their opposition, however, the Majority had their way as the loan has been approved, Joy News’ Kwesi Parker Wilson reported.

 

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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