Ghana’s presidential jet, the Falcon-900 EX, has been grounded in France since March 11, 2025, for extensive inspection and maintenance works due to multiple major defects, Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, revealed in Parliament on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Responding to an urgent question posed by Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, the Minister confirmed that the aircraft is undergoing a 24-month routine inspection in France, which has now extended beyond initial expectations following the discovery of additional defects.
Jet May not return by July 31 as planned
Initially, authorities anticipated that the Falcon-900 would return to Ghana by July 31, 2025.
However, Dr Omane Boamah stated that the emergence of “multi-focal massive defects” has delayed the maintenance process, and the revised date for the aircraft’s return remains uncertain.
“The aircraft, which is an asset of the Ghana Air Force, has been undergoing routine inspection in France due to massive corrosion in several critical components,” he explained to Parliament.
He said affected parts include both left and right turbofan engines, the fuel tank, and structural components of the wings. These defects, he noted, were largely the result of delayed maintenance in previous years.
Vice-President’s return on private jet
The Defence Minister’s remarks were in response to concerns raised over Vice-President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang’s return to Ghana on May 22, 2025, aboard a private jet after receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
With the presidential jet grounded in Europe at the time, Dr Omane Boamah clarified that it was unavailable for official use, hence the Vice President’s travel arrangement.
Aircraft also serves judiciary, other institutions
Dr Omane Boamah further emphasized that the Falcon-900 is not exclusive to the Executive branch, but is regularly used by other arms of government and national institutions for vital state assignments.
He cautioned against politicizing the condition of the aircraft, urging citizens and lawmakers alike to treat the matter as a national concern rather than a partisan issue.
“Let’s not reduce this important conversation to NDC versus NPP. This is a matter of national security, sovereignty, and responsible maintenance of state assets,” he said.
Presidential travel decisions
Asked how the President would embark on international assignments in the absence of the official jet, the Defence Minister said such decisions should be left to the Office of the President and the Ghana Air Force, both of which are responsible for logistics and travel arrangements for the President and other top officials.
The Falcon-900, which has been in Ghana’s service for 15 years, has previously come under scrutiny for its age, airworthiness, and maintenance record.
Dr Omane Boamah’s disclosure adds fresh insight into the state of the aircraft and raises new questions about the long-term strategy for executive air transport in Ghana.
