Government reveals plans to acquire a new jet for Government business
Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul has revealed to Ghana’s Parliament that consultations are ongoing to procure a new executive jet.
Reasons that triggered conversations for the purchase of such a jet was a request from the Ghana Air Force calling for the new jet to aid government and military operations.
The Minister in answering questions from North Tongu legislator Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in Parliament explained that the legislature will be presented an agreement to that effect based on what happens during the consultation process.
“The Ghana Air Force has indeed written to the Minister of Defence to secure for the use of government business the main aircraft for the communications squadron for the Ghana Air Force. Mr Speaker, consultations are ongoing with Government, Parliament, religious bodies and trade unions on the purchase of Ghana Air Force and Navy assets to enable the Ghana Armed Forces to efficiently defend our nation as expected,” the Minister announced in Parliament on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.
The Minister defended the decision to procure a new aircraft by stating that it had become necessary because the current aircraft was not fit for purpose.
“The policy and strategy of the Ghana Air Force have been to maintain a minimum of 2 aircraft, which consists of the main aircraft and supporting aircraft that are expected to undertake government business. It must be noted that the CASA 295 is not suitable for Government business in view of its design and features making it a pure military aircraft.”
Initially, the Defence Minister had laid a 111 million euro performance sales and purchase agreement for the supply of six L-39 next-generation aircraft for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu laid the agreement before the house on behalf of his colleague, Dominic Nitiwul.
AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s of the Czech Republic is the named supplier in the agreement.
It was then referred to the Defence and Interior Committee for consideration.
The Ministry of Defence explained that in its Medium Term Expenditure for 2022 and 2023, the ministry as of June 30, 2019, had “overhauled three (3) Casa Aircraft for the Ghana Air Force and Two (2) helicopters which were grounded since 2012.”
The document stipulates that seven aircraft were supposed to have been acquired for the Ghana Armed Forces before the end of 2020.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
