Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah, has accused Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and other critics of being dishonest in their claims regarding the condition of Ghana’s presidential jet.
Braimah said recent public commentary suggesting that the country’s presidential aircraft is completely unusable and must urgently be replaced is misleading and does not reflect the true situation.
His comments come amid renewed national debate about government plans to acquire a new presidential aircraft, with some critics arguing that the current jet is excessively expensive to maintain and no longer reliable for official travel.
However, Braimah maintained that the narrative being pushed by some political actors has been exaggerated for political advantage. According to him, while the aircraft may require maintenance and periodic servicing—as is the case with all aircraft—claims that it is entirely unfit for use are inaccurate.
“The conversation around the presidential jet must be based on facts and transparency rather than political propaganda,” he noted.
The anti-corruption advocate explained that public officials and commentators have a responsibility to present accurate information when discussing matters involving state resources, particularly when the issue has significant financial implications for taxpayers.
The presidential jet, a Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy, has been at the center of controversy for several years. Successive governments have faced criticism over the cost of maintaining the aircraft, as well as the frequent use of chartered flights for official trips when the jet is undergoing maintenance.
Mr. Ablakwa has been one of the most vocal critics of government expenditure on presidential travel, often raising concerns in Parliament and on social media about the costs associated with chartering private jets for official trips.
But Braimah argued that the debate should not be reduced to political point-scoring. Instead, he called for a transparent, fact-based assessment of the aircraft’s operational status, maintenance costs, and the long-term value of either refurbishing the existing jet or acquiring a new one.
He added that Ghana’s governance discourse must move away from partisan narratives and focus more on accountability, evidence, and responsible public communication.
The issue of the presidential jet continues to generate strong public interest, with many citizens calling for greater transparency from government on the costs, maintenance history, and future plans regarding the aircraft used for presidential travel.
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