Former Deputy Defence Minister Kofi Amankwaa-Manu has raised concerns about the size of the proposed new presidential jet the government intends to acquire.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Amankwaa-Manu said the aircraft, expected to arrive by November, will only accommodate about 18 passengers, which he believes may not be sufficient for presidential travel.
According to him, the President often travels with more people than the aircraft’s seating capacity.
He said he expected the government to consider acquiring a bigger aircraft instead of another jet similar to the Dassault Falcon 900 currently used as Ghana’s presidential jet.
“To me, it doesn’t make sense. The jet they want to purchase can take only about 18 people, but sometimes when the President travels, the people he goes with are more than that,” he said.
Mr. Amankwaa-Manu added that the situation could eventually lead to the government returning to request approval for a bigger aircraft for executive travel.
“I’m sure very soon they will come and say they want to buy a bigger jet for the executive,” he stated.
He further criticised the politicisation of national issues, noting that when former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo proposed acquiring a similar jet, the National Democratic Congress opposed the idea while in opposition.
According to him, the same party is now considering purchasing the aircraft, which he believes highlights how political actors often turn national issues into partisan debates.
He also pointed out that the cost of acquiring the jet now would likely be higher than when the proposal was first made, adding that excessive politicisation remains one of the country’s major challenges.
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