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Dominic Nitiwul, the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, has questioned why earlier requests for similar acquisitions were consistently turned down and has urged the government to provide an explanation for its decision to buy two new aircraft for the Ghana Air Force.
This comes after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson declared in Parliament on Thursday, November 13, that starting in 2026, the government will start acquiring four contemporary helicopters, one long-range aircraft, and one medium-range aircraft.
As part of a larger initiative to improve the Ghana Air Force’s operational capability, the aircraft are anticipated to be delivered in four years.
Dr. Forson emphasized the necessity of the purchases, pointing out that the Air Force’s preparedness is limited by an aging fleet and expensive maintenance requirements. Aerial surveillance, troop and cargo transport, marine patrols, air defense, disaster response, and medical evacuations will all be supported by the new aircraft.
The former Defence minister emphasized the critical need for a strategic lift to strengthen national defense during his speech in Parliament on Thursday, November 20.
Nitiwul pushed the government to explain its previous inaction, saying it is not in Ghana’s best interests to postpone such acquisitions.
“I keep saying that if there is anybody in this room who knows the needs of the military, I have served them for eight years. I hold the same position I held last year and for the past eight years: it is not in our interest as a country not to have a strategic lift. We need it.”
“The government should own up. You want to buy two – own up, apologise to the people of Ghana, and convince us why you rejected the purchase for the last five years, and today you want to buy two: one long-range and one medium-size,” the former Defence Minister said.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
