Akufo Addo’s Air Jacuzzi: Airforce Wants New Presidential Jet

The Ghana Air Force (GAF) is requesting a new multifunctional aircraft for the Presidency after the faux pas of President Akuffo Addo abandoning the functional Presidential Jet and chartering one of the most expensive private jets in the world.

The cost implication for the Airbus ACJ320neo chartered by the Jubilee House from UK-based from Aviation for the President’s recent nine-day trip to Europe and South Africa set the Ghanaian taxpayers back by some costing the country over GHC 3 million.

In what has sparked widespread public outrage, Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul had thrown President Akufo Addo under the bus by justifying the outrageous funds used to charter the gold-plated ACJ320neo saying among other things that the Jubilee House had picked the luxury option so President Akufo Addo can take his shower in the air.

“In fact, the president would also have to go a day ahead because no president can shower in this aircraft. He cannot move from this aircraft straight into a meeting,” the Defence Minister said in reference to the existing presidential jet that is reportedly still in pristine conditions.

Now, Nitiwul is claiming that the Air Force is requesting a new Presidential Jet that can transport up to 100 people on the President’s entourage.

 “The Ghana Air Force of Ghana is once again requesting for a multi-functional aircraft to add to its inventory as a requisite command and control asset, to be able to connect Ghana’s National Security to diplomacy,” Nitiwul told Parliament.

Answering an urgent question in Parliament from the North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa  Mr. Nitiwul listed a litany of shortcomings of the presidential jet.

The lid on the expensive flight by the President was blown by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu.

Okudzeto had earlier published a write-up expressing indignation over the government’s profligate lifestyle amidst growing public debt and budget deficit. 

Hon. Ablakwa had claimed President Akufo-Addo has spent an amount of GHS 2.8 million on that contentious trip.

“The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT, is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as “the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets.” It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately £15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it”, he alleged in a post on Facebook.