Stop Politising Purchase Of Presidential Jets And Military Helicopters- Asantehene

His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has encouraged politicians to maintain a non-partisan approach to critical issues, including the purchase of presidential jets and military helicopters.

The Asantehene, during an engagement with the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, on August 13, 2025, said safety and efficiency must be core when such vital resources are in question.

“Enough of the politicisation of the purchase of presidential planes and helicopters. Human lives are at stake here. We must invest to safeguard their safety and efficiency.”

Otumfuo asserted that most of the military aircraft are currently not in good shape for continuous use and therefore called for the need to invest in modern ones.

It comes after eight individuals, including two cabinet Ministers, lost their lives in a GAF helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofrom on August 6, 2025.

The Minister and his entourage were at the Manhyia Palace to commiserate with His Majesty on the passing of the Queen, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.

Politicisation
It will be recalled that during the previous administration, there was an uproar over Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s frequent use of luxury jets for trips instead of the Presidential jet.

At the time, the government explained that the Falcon 900 Ex-Easy, is not for in good condition to be used for long journeys.

Former Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, is cited to have told Parliament in June 2021 that at the time, the aircraft was 11 years old and had developed two engine faults and could not be used for long journeys without refuelling stops.
This was rejected by the then-opposition party.

Four years later, after the National Democratic Congress government took over, President Mahama was questioned for using the private jet of his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for a trip to a neighbouring country.

The now-late Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah explained in a Facebook post that the Presidential jet is currently unfit for use and undergoing maintenance abroad.

“Akufo-Addo’s administration ran down the Presidential jet. Among others, its fuel tank is even corroded. The Presidential jet has been in the ‘hospital’ abroad for maintenance, repair and overhaul and may be put in a fairly usable state after three months of ‘therapy’. The Presidential jet is unfit for use presently.”

However, Nitiwul expressed strong disapproval, saying the jet was fit for purpose.

“The presidential jet is in good order. In fact, former President Nana Akufo-Addo used this presidential jet either on the 22nd or 23rd of December to Takoradi because we had to go to Nzulezu to commission a Naval base, and he used this jet. I was there. It was the same jet he used on 29th December to Kumasi,” he is quoted as saying in an interview with JoyNews.

Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/