The Ghana Air Force has not prioritized the purchase of a new aircraft, according to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu.
According to him, the military and other security organizations never cited an executive jet as a high priority in a series of talks with ranking members of important committees in Parliament about the needs of security operations in the country.
On Joy FM’s ‘Top Story’ show on Tuesday, December 14, the Ranking Member for the Committee on Foreign Affairs stated that buying a presidential plane at this time is unnecessary.
“I’ve sat in meetings where the Ghana Air Force has given us a list of what they require, and an executive jet isn’t even on the list of requirements. This is an Air Force in desperate need of fighter jets, as well as a lot of retooling and re-equipment for our people.
“Carrying the President is at the bottom of the priority list, especially since we only bought a presidential plane ten years ago.” The Falcon 900EXE is accessible if we don’t have a presidential jet. The Falcon is in perfect condition, and there is nothing wrong with it,” Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa remarked.
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The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul had mentioned in Parliament on Tuesday, December 14, that the purchase of a presidential aircraft is paramount for government business and the procurement of a new aircraft is necessary, particularly in the absence of Ghana Airways.
Ntiwul indicated that the government of Ghana is currently holding consultations on the purchase of an aircraft with the likelihood of backtracking on the procurement if need be.
He said, the government has already contacted two manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, on the purchase of the aircraft.
But, Okudzeto Ablakwa has urged the government of Ghana to halt any consultations on the procurement of aircraft and suspend ongoing engagement with the manufacturers.
“This is neither here nor there. The point is not that it is long-term and will arrive in 2025 or 2026. That’s not the fundamental issue, the fundamental issue is that you are going to commit the Ghanaian people to this extra expenditure which is needless at this time, totally needless. We are saying that you have no business in consultations. Just stop it. This cannot be a priority, just suspend this. This cannot be the protection of the public purse,” he stressed.
