Government Commence Process To Acquire New State Aircraft – Eugene Arhin
The government has commenced the process of acquiring a new state aircraft that will serve as the presidential jet among other functions, the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, has confirmed.
The Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, in June this year while answering a question on the floor of Parliament posed by Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the state of the country’s existing Presidential jet, noted that there was the need for the nation to consider purchasing a new aircraft.
The Defence Minister at the time intimated that the current Falcon 900 EX-Easy aircraft, used by the President, was not fit for purpose any longer.
According to him, the presidential jet – a Ghana Airforce Falcon Ex-Easy – could only carry 11 passengers minus the crew and it often had to do “undesirable refuelling stops at unintended destinations” during long hauls, causing inconvenience to both the President and the host countries.
To avert such inconveniences, he said, the use of the chartered private jet was critical as the plane could carry more passengers and fly long distances without making stops to refuel.
“Mr Speaker, it is interesting to note that the Armed Forces of Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Uganda, Kenya, Congo (DR), Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, just to mention but a few, all have a Boeing or Airbus Jet of that capacity to serve as strategic Airlifts,” the minister said on the floor of the house in June.
Addressing the Presidential Press Corps at the weekly Jubilee House briefing today the 27th of September 2021, Eugene Arhin, indicated that the government has initiated the process that will lead to the acquisition of a new aircraft to augment the fleet of the Ghana Armed Forces.
“The Minister for Defence has made it clear that government has decided to buy a bigger jet to save us from all these troubles”.
“I won’t want to go into details. I am sure when the Minister for Defence has the opportunity to give further information as to what government is doing concerning that I am sure he will do that” EugeneArhinsaid.
“I know for a fact that government is already in the process of acquiring a bigger jet for use” Arhin emphasized.
*Regional Tour*
In his opening statement, Mr Arhin indicated that thus far, President Akufo-Addo has toured 12 out of the 16 regions in the country throughout the year 2021.
To this end, beginning 1st October 2021, President Akufo-Addo will undertake a seven-day tour of the Ashanti and Eastern regions of the country.
At the successful completion of the tour of the two regions, the President will be left with the Central Region and the Greater-Accra region to complete his yearly agenda of visiting all regions in the country.
*Ministerial Assessment*
As part of processes towards the preparation of the 2022 budget, Eugene Arhin said the President has commenced individual consultation, assessment, review and analysis of the work of each of his Ministers.
“Today (27th of September 2021), the President has begun a series of consultative meetings with his Ministers. It is three-pronged agenda” Arhin Stated.
“The first is to assess their work programme for the remainder of the year, secondly, to discuss their budgetary requirements and their work programme ahead of the reading of the budget for 2022 and thirdly to ensure that they continue to be in tune with his agenda for his second term in office” Arhin added.