A heated exchange unfolded in Parliament over the use of onboard bathroom facilities by the former president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akudo-Addo, sparking debate and clarifications that have now grabbed national attention.
The drama began when Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga questioned the necessity of hiring a presidential jet equipped with a bathroom, arguing that if the facility went unused, the expenditure warranted scrutiny. “That facility in the aircraft will be paid for, so making such an expenditure without using it deserves to be questioned,” Ayariga said, adding that the former president, known for his gentlemanly demeanour, would likely use such a facility.
Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, however, sharply countered the insinuation, stressing that he had never claimed the former president bathed while in the air. “There is a big difference between doing propaganda outside and speaking in Parliament. I have never said anywhere, not in or outside this house, that the former president… has bathed or intends to bathe in the air,” Nitiwu said.
He clarified that his comments merely addressed the challenges of even freshening up during travel, and lamented that Ayariga had dragged what he called “propaganda” into the House. “The leadership in the NDC, serving as the majority, should stop impugning bad motives to the former president,” he added.
The exchange highlighted tensions in Parliament over the interpretation of statements and the fine line between scrutiny and political messaging, drawing attention both inside and outside the chamber.
