The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is spending a colossal amount of over GH¢2.4 billion to purchase one luxury presidential jet and four helicopters for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) after vehemently opposing such purchases by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
This is the first batch of the purchases as the government has programmed to spend a total of about GH¢13 billion in the subsequent budgets to retool GAF.
Accordingly, parliament last week approved a sale and purchase contract agreement between the government of Ghana and Dassault Aviation, France, for an amount of $60.68 million (approximately GH¢691,752,000) for the acquisition of one Falcon 6X Executive Jet (presidential jet).
Features of Falcon 6X
The Dassault Falcon 6X is a state-of-the-art long-range business jet known for its spacious cabin, advanced technology, and impressive performance capabilities.
It boasts a maximum range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 km), allowing for nonstop flights between major international cities.
The aircraft has a maximum operating speed, making it one of the fastest jets in its class.
It features the widest and tallest cabin in business aviation, providing unparalleled comfort and space for passengers.
Design and comfort
The Falcon 6X is designed with 30 extra-large windows and a skylight, flooding the cabin with natural light and offering panoramic views.
The cabin can be customised to meet specific needs, with options for private suites, conference areas, and lounge zones.
Purchase of 4 helicopters
Parliament also approved a contract between the government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Defence, and Airbus Helicopters (SAS), France, for an amount of €125.97 million (approximately GH¢1,759,800,000) for the supply of one H160 and three H175 helicopters for the Ghana Air Force.
The total amount of the presidential jet and the four helicopters is GH¢2,451,552,000.
Shameless hypocrisy
The current Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament a year ago announced his side was not going to support the purchase of any presidential jet as the current one is fit for purpose.
“Let me serve notice that we on the NDC side in Parliament, we have discussed extensively amongst ourselves, we are not going to support this purchase, the purchase of a new aircraft, because of several reasons.
1. The current presidential jet is fit for purpose as President George Weah has told us in our faces. It is very fit for purpose and there is nothing wrong with it.
2. The current presidential jet, if you read the Hanzard of 19th March, 2008, we were told by the then Defence Minister who is now National Security Minister, Hon Kan-Dapaah that our jet has a 20-year lifespan after it arrives. It arrived in October 2010, it’s done barely 11 years, next month is 11 years. We are nowhere near 2030 where you can start discussing,” Mr Ablakwa stated in an interview with TV3’s Roland Walker a year ago when the NPP government presented aircraft purchase agreements to Parliament.
Tongues are now wagging as to how NDC while in opposition a few months ago, forcefully rejected parliamentary approval of the retooling of GAF, is now purchasing the aircraft, further deepening suspicions of political immorality and shameless hypocrisy.
Justification for agreements
Presenting the report of the Denfence and Interior Committee of Parliament and urging the House to adopt it, the Chairman of the committee, Mr James Agalga, said Article 210 of the Constitution mandates the Ghana Armed Forces to be combat-ready at all times in terms of its personnel and equipment.
He said a considerable portion of the GAF fleet has reached advanced age, with many platforms currently grounded due to extensive maintenance challenges.
“In this regard, it is necessary that the state adequately equip the Ghana Armed Forces from time to time with modern and sophisticated equipment.
“Additionally, acquisition of new aircraft forms part of the broader retooling and comprehensive modernisation agenda for the Ghana Air Force in particular to ensure safety, Efficiency, and strategic mobility for both national leadership and military operations,” Mr Agalga who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North stated.
He explained that while upfront cost might be significant, modern aircraft reduce long-term maintenance expenses compared to ageing feet.
According to him, the proposed helicopters and jets were designed for versatility, offering superior performance in executive and troop transport, logistics support, and humanitarian operations.
“Additionally, these aircraft have extended range, payload capacity, and modern avionics, which gives them an edge over the previous generation, which will enable rapid deployment in support of GAF’s counterterrorism, border, and maritime security operations as well as executive travels,” he said.
Mr Agalga pointed out that the long-term economic benefits of procuring the new aircraft fleet outweighed the associated cost.
“It was evident that continued reliance on the ageing Mi-17 helicopter fleet and the Falcon 900EX aircraft has become financially unsustainable and operationally inefficient for the Ghana Air Force.
“Over a projected 15-year service life, the total lifecycle cost of the proposed new fleet is estimated to be 30-40 per cent lower than the cost of maintaining and operating the existing ageing aircraft,” he said.
Minority backs agreements
Supporting the motion for the House to approve the contract agreements, the Ranking Member on the Defence Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, said the Minority supported retooling efforts to enhance the air capabilities of the Ghana Air Force.
He said since it was a need of yesterday, today, and years to come, the Minority was supporting it in the national interest.
However, he recalled how the NDC Minority in the past waged a propaganda to undermine every effort to equip the GAF.
“Mr Speaker, enough of the politics, and I believe that this is a new dawn and a time that has come that the opposition side of Parliament is doing the patriotic thing of supporting what is good for the state and what is good for the Ghana Armed Forces.
“We will put the safety of the President as a priority so that he can safely travel and conduct business on behalf of the state and return safely in a most patriotic way,” Rev. Fordjour who is also the MP for Assin South concluded.
