Government says the Presidential Jet has been flown to France for major repair works to be carried out on it and not for any other purpose.
According to government, the jet is expected to return to the country in December this year after completion of the repair works.
It would be recalled that somewhere in May, 2022, the Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul indicated the presidential jet would be flown to France for at least four months.
“By the end of this month, we will not have a presidential jet because the one we have is going to France for re-service; it’s one of the reasons the President will not use it for four to five months,” he said in an interview with JoyNews.
Eugene Arhin, Communication Director at the Jubilee House made this statement in response to Facebook post made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu regarding the use of the presidential jet.
Mr. Arhin indicated that “Contrary to the insinuations being cast by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, no one “used the Presidential Jet to France”, and no one is using the Presidential Jet in France. The only persons who flew the jet to France are the crew made up of pilots from the Ghana Air Force.
“Indeed, the Presidential Jet departed Ghana on 30th August to France for major repair works to be carried out on it – repair works which are very much long overdue. The Air Force has indicated that the Presidential Jet will be out of service for a total of four (4) months, and will return to Ghana and be available for use in December. It will be recalled that in May this year, the Minister for Defence, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, alerted Ghanaians to the fact that the Presidential Jet would be flown to France for major repair works to be undertaken.”
He therefore wondered how Mr Ablakwa expects President Akufo-Addo to return to Ghana on Saturday, September 10, from his current trip to the Netherlands and France on board the Presidential Jet, which is undergoing major repair works and is scheduled to return to Ghana in December.
He therefore urged the NDC MP to minimize his penchant for engaging in propaganda regarding the Presidential Jet, to avoid further embarrassments to his person.
By Vincent Kubi