Minister for Defence Dr Edward Omane Boamah says Ghana’s presidential jet remains out of service due to extensive corrosion, and efforts are ongoing to restore it to flying condition.
Speaking during his turn at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Monday, July 21, the minister confirmed that the Falcon aircraft has not returned from maintenance and expressed frustration over missed delivery deadlines.
“It is sad to note that for some time now, whenever the aircraft goes for either maintenance or repair… And in this case, as we speak, the aircraft is still not in,” he said.
“We’ve been given a date, but I don’t want to put that date out because I’ve been given too many dates which did not materialise.”
Despite the uncertainty, he expressed hope.
“We are hoping that this date that has been given, we will see the Falcon here in Ghana,” he added.
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The minister revealed the extent of damage to the presidential jet, describing it as serious.
“The truth is that it is heavily corroded, and this is not the Air Force itself saying it; these are third independent parties putting out this when it was sent away,” he said. “You heard the various multiple corrosion that I listed.”
Dr Boamah stressed, however, that the jet’s condition should not justify hiring expensive private aircraft.
“That does not in any way justify hiring or renting luxurious aircraft, persistently, no way,” he said.
He assured the public that the government was reviewing the air and naval assets of the Ghana Armed Forces as part of a broader defence strategy.
“So be assured that hopefully when we are considering the air assets of the Air Force, the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Army, all these things will be considered and the right decision taken,” he said.
For now, the focus remains on getting the existing aircraft back in service. “We are focused on restoring what we have to a serviceable state so that we can make do with it,” the Minister said.
The Government Accountability series is a platform for key sector ministers to present mid-year updates and offer a preliminary assessment of the government’s performance over the past six months. And it is part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
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