The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has expressed concern over the government’s plan to spend a total of GH₵13.1 billion within four years on the purchase of two presidential jets and four helicopters for the Ghana Armed Airforce.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps at Parliament House on Wednesday, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Damongo, said the expenditure, when converted at the current Bank of Ghana exchange rate of GH₵10.53 to the US dollar, amounts to approximately US$1.2 billion.
Mr Jinapor argued that the planned acquisition of the presidential aircraft was a misplaced priority, particularly at a time when nurses’ allowances remained unpaid, and farmers were grappling with food gluts at the farm gates.
He explained that the procurement process was expected to begin in 2026, with the government allocating GH₵2.6 billion.
In 2027, the government is projected to spend GH₵3.5 billion, in 2028 it has allocated GH₵3.3 billion and GH₵3.5 billion in 2029.
The figures, he noted, were contained in page 136, paragraph 10(9) of the budget statement.
The Damongo legislator urged the government to reconsider the expenditure in favour of addressing pressing social and economic challenges confronting the country.
The Falcon 900EX Executive Jet, which serves as Ghana’s presidential aircraft, faced prolonged delays after technicians discovered additional faults during its maintenance in France.
The jet was originally grounded due to corrosion found in its fuel tanks—an issue that had already pushed back its expected return date.
Briefing Parliament on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Deputy Minister for Defence Ernest Brogya Genfi confirmed that although the initial corrosion problems had been resolved, further inspections revealed new complications that extended the aircraft’s stay abroad.
Genfi said “The reported corrosion spots detected within the aircraft’s fuel tanks, which affected the aircraft’s delivery date, have undergone extensive repairs. These corrosion issues in the fuel tanks have since been resolved.”
