Minister for Defence, Dr Omane Boamah has informed the general public that the country's presidential jet is currently undergoing maintenance works abroad.

According to the minister in a Facebook post, the immediate-past government led by former President Akufo-Addo ran down the presidential jet.

He wrote: "Let the NPP that suffered the most humiliating defeat in recent memory in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections know this:

1. Akufo-Addo's administration rundown the Presidential jet. Among others, its fuel tank is even corroded.

2. The Presidential jet has been in the 'hospital' abroad for maintenance, repair and overhaul and may be put in fairly usable state after three months of 'therapy'.

3. The Presidential jet is unfit for use presently."

The sector minister made this known after the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, alleged that a luxury flight worth over $170,000 was chartered to fly in Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang back to Ghana on Thursday, May 22.

"Ghana’s Vice President touched down from London on a VistaJet, a luxury chartered flight. Cost? Over $170,000 (20 billion old cedis ) This is enough to:

1.Pay 250 striking university staff for a month.

2.Complete a CHPS compound or stock a hospital pharmacy for a year.

3.Fund electricity for 50 SHSs for a whole term.

4.Buy 150,000 exercise books for basic schools," the legislator wrote in a Facebook post.

Mr Assafuah has reacted to the recent status of the presidential jet.

He quizzed how the presidential jet could be declared unfit after its use by President Mahama on January 25, 2025, following the continous use of a private jet owned by the president's brother, Ibrahim Mahama.

"President Mahama used the Presidential Jet on 25th January 2025, barely 18 days after President Akufo-Addo left office.

The military Squadron is mandated to give clearance for all presidential flights. So how did a supposedly “unfit” jet get cleared for takeoff if it was grounded for serious maintenance?

On what basis are you blaming President Akufo-Addo for running down a jet that your own President used safely weeks into your administration?" he quizzed.

The legislator has therefore announced his decision to have Parliament invite the Defence Minister to answer the following questions upon convening of the House.

"1.The full cost to the state for Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s chartered flight

2.The true current condition of the Presidential Jet

3.How your government rationalizes blaming a former president for a jet that was fully operational under your watch."

In January this year, former Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul criticized former President John Mahama for sidelining the state-owned presidential jet in favor of his brother's private aircraft for official duties.

The Bimbilla MP argued that the decision disregards the readiness and functionality of the presidential jet, which has undergone extensive maintenance.

Speaking on Joy News' PM Express on Wednesday, January 22, he said, "The presidential jet is in good order. In fact, former President Nana Akufo-Addo used this presidential jet either on the 22nd or 23rd of December to Takoradi because we had to go to Nzulezu to commission a Naval base, and he used this jet. I was there. It was the same jet he used on 29th December to Kumasi."

On the matter, President John Mahama's Spokesperson offered an explanation for the president’s use of a private jet owned by his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for recent official trips to Senegal and The Gambia.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, responding to public inquiries, stated that the private jet had been available for the president’s use well before the 2024 elections.

He highlighted that the arrangement places no financial strain on the state, as the jet is made available at no cost.