President John Mahama
The government has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the acquisition of four helicopters to strengthen the country’s defence, security and emergency response capabilities.
The deal, awarded by the Ministry of Defence, covers two H175M helicopters as well as one ACH175 and one ACH160.
The acquisition is aimed at enhancing the country’s capacity in transport, search and rescue, emergency medical services, disaster relief and defence operations, particularly at a time of growing regional security and humanitarian challenges.
Under the agreement, the two H175Ms will be deployed as multi-mission helicopters, supporting a broad range of operations including troop and personnel transport, search and rescue missions, emergency medical evacuations and disaster response.
The ACH175 and ACH160 helicopters, configured for transport, will serve executive and logistical roles.
In a statement announcing the contract, Airbus Helicopters described the deal as a significant milestone for its engagement with Ghana.
Head of the Africa and Middle East Region, Arnaud Montalvo, said the order marked Airbus Helicopters’ return to the Ghanaian market with a renewed emphasis on customer support and long-term partnership.
“We are particularly excited that the H175M will be operated in Ghana, demonstrating the aircraft’s versatility across defence and security missions. This key deal also makes Ghana a leading customer in West Africa for our premium corporate helicopters, the ACH160 and ACH175,” Mr. Montalvo said.
The H175 helicopter, which has been in service since 2014, belongs to Airbus’ super-medium class.
It is designed to combine long range and high payload capacity with smooth flight characteristics, making it suitable for a wide range of missions.
These include disaster relief, search and rescue, public service operations and various military roles, as well as offshore and onshore transport and business aviation.
The ACH160, the latest addition to Airbus Corporate Helicopters’ portfolio, is described by the manufacturer as the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter.
It features 68 new Airbus-patented technologies and offers about 20 percent more cabin volume per passenger compared to previous-generation medium twin helicopters.
Its larger windows, about 35 percent bigger than those of competitors, are designed to deliver the brightest cabin in its class.
The new contract comes against the backdrop of past controversies involving Airbus’ dealings in Ghana. The company was previously fined a combined $3.9 billion by authorities in the United Kingdom, the United States and France over corrupt practices linked to the sale of three C-295 military transport aircraft to Ghana between 2009 and 2015.
Court documents from those cases revealed that Airbus paid €3.8 million to an intermediary in connection with the C-295 contract, payments that were disguised as commissions.
Investigations by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office found that Airbus failed to prevent bribery involving officials in Ghana and other countries.
President John Mahama was referenced in court filings as “Government Official 1,” but the Office of the Special Prosecutor later cleared him of any wrongdoing, citing a lack of evidence.
Despite the earlier scandal, the government said the new helicopter acquisition is focused on addressing the nation’s current operational needs in defence and emergency response, while ensuring improved oversight and value for money.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke