Dominic Nitiwul, the former Minister of Defence, has said the former Akufo-Addo government handed over an airworthy presidential jet to the NDC-led John Mahama government.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Dominic Nitiwul revealed that the Falcon 900 was serviced by the manufacturers and was used by Akufo-Addo until he left office.
Dominic Nitiwul detailed, “It came back with everything anew after they (manufacturers) worked on it. The servicing was done by the manufacturers; they worked on it and said everything was okay. So, there was no problem with it.
“So, the former president started using it in April 2024. He used it until the time he handed it over. That is why I said that we have given out a jet that is airworthy, serviceable and can fly,” he said.
He added, “After using it for one more year, it was found out that the corroded part was still giving the jet problems. So, the Air Force recommended to the new government to send it back to France for further servicing”.
“What we should not be doing is politicking. Even though the former minister is gone, I don’t really want to criticise him, but it was wrong for him to come and start talking about an expensive jet. What is the meaning of expensive jet?… Has he even told Ghanaians the cost? Or is he relying on what Okudzeto said? I think that’s terribly wrong,” he said.
However, the Defence Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, before his passing, revealed that Ghana’s presidential jet is sick and heavily corroded.
According to the Defence Minister, the Presidential jet is in France due to serious technical faults.
Omane Boamah further revealed that the return date for the Presidential jet keeps changing.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 21, Dr Omane Boamah stated, “It is sad to note that for some time now, whenever the president’s jet goes for either maintenance or overhaul, the date that is scheduled for it to return to Ghana keeps changing”.
“They have extended it to two months before, and later two and a half. In this case, as we speak, the aircraft is still not in.”
“We are hoping that the date that has been given will see the Falcon in Ghana,” he said.
“The truth is that the presidential jet is heavily corroded… However, that does not in any way justify hiring or renting luxurious aircraft persistently for presidential use,” he asserted.
In addition, Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) New Juaben North Constituency Chairman, has said the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, told President John Dramani Mahama the presidential jet was a coffin.
According to Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, the late Omane Boamah pointed blankly warned Mahama about Ghana’s presidential jet as not safe.
Speaking on Atinka TV, Boateng-Agyemang stated, “I will never join the conversation about buying a new private jet. Look at what has happened regarding the crash; my family member was involved. I don’t want to make it emotional, but the truth is, they refused to service the aircraft because of what they had said”.
“The report from Omane Boamah to the president was clear. He told him point-blank that the jet Okudzeto Ablakwa was making noise about, when former President Akufo-Addo was using it, was not safe. He said if Mahama sits in it, he, Omane Boamah, would not because the jet was a coffin”, Boateng-Agyemang claimed.
He further alleged that the Z9 Helicopter that crashed on August 6, 2025, was due for servicing.
He added, “If President Mahama says my cousin never warned him, he should come out and deny it. But if he does, my brother’s ghost will haunt him forever. The truth is that the jet that crashed was due for servicing, which was going to cost the nation 12 million euros”.
Ghana’s Falcon 900 EX Presidential Jet was purchased in 2009 and arrived in the country in 2010.
It replaced a 37-year-old Foker 27 aircraft, which was regarded as a flying coffin.
The Falcon 900 EX Presidential Jet has since been grounded at the Dassault Falcon Service facility in Le Bourget, France, due to massive wear and tear issues.
In 2021, the former Akufo-Addo government sought to purchase a new and bigger jet for the Presidency, but faced public backlash over accusations of extravagant travels by Akufo-Addo.