Ayariga Schools Jinapor After Controversial Presidential Jet Allegation

A fiery exchange erupted in Parliament on Wednesday when Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga sharply challenged Damongo MP Samuel Jinapor over a disputed claim about the 2026 national budget. Jinapor had argued during deliberations that the government intended to commit a staggering $1.2 billion to acquiring a new presidential jet—an assertion Ayariga insisted had no basis in the document being debated.

The drama unfolded as lawmakers took turns dissecting the 2026 Budget and Financial Statement. Jinapor, during his contribution, painted the alleged jet expenditure as a symbol of misplaced government priorities, particularly at a time when several sectors are grappling with financial strain. He argued that such a hefty allocation for an aircraft was indefensible when public sector workers were owed salaries and key economic sectors were under pressure.

Ayariga, however, pushed back forcefully. He demanded that Jinapor pinpoint the exact section of the budget where such a figure had been recorded. According to him, the claim did not align with any portion of the document, and allowing it to stand would distort the facts surrounding the fiscal plan for the coming year. He stressed that debates must be grounded in accurate data, not exaggerated figures.

The Majority Leader went further to break down the numbers, explaining that the only related provision he had seen amounted to GH¢2 billion—a figure far from the dollar value Jinapor presented. What puzzled Ayariga even more was how the Damongo MP arrived at the alleged $1.2 billion conversion, which in his view demonstrated a serious error in basic numerical interpretation.

As the exchange intensified, Ayariga laced his rebuttal with pointed humour, suggesting that Jinapor’s arithmetic miscalculation could not be blamed on his early education. By referencing Fufusu Primary School and praising its mathematics teachers, he implied that the mistake had nothing to do with the institution but rather Jinapor’s own misreading of the budget.

The confrontation quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the session, highlighting the heightened tension surrounding the 2026 budget discussions. With lawmakers under pressure to justify expenditures in a difficult economic period, every figure and conversion has become a battleground.

Ayariga’s insistence on correcting the record suggests that further scrutiny of financial claims is likely as the debate continues, especially on sensitive items such as presidential transport and high-value state purchases.