Government has procured a new Falcon presidential jet for official use by the state.
Defence Minister General Henry Smith announced this at a press briefing on Thursday.
The Falcon plane is expected to arrive in the country in July this year.
The previous NPP government had made arrangements for the purchase of the Falcon jet and an Airbus plane to augment the Ghana Airforce fleet but the agreement was reviewed by the National Democratic Congress when it assumed office in 2009.
The Defence Minister explained the decision to purchase the Falcon jet was informed by the fact that “executive travel was becoming a problem”.
According to him, manufacturers of the aircraft had gone so far, it was imprudent for government to terminate the agreement.
“The reason why we decided to go in for the Falcon is that we checked with the manufacturers and they had gone so far it was custom made for Ghana. So if we didn’t take it, per the contract that was signed it will mean that they will not have any body buying it because it is been made specifically for the country,” he explained.
He said the president on the advice of cabinet decided to go on with the purchase and barring any unforeseen circumstances the jet will arrive in the country in July.
Story by Nathan Gadugah
Source: GhanaWeb
