Member of Parliament for Bimbilla and former Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, is demanding clarity from the government on its decision to procure new aircraft for the Ghana Air Force after years of rejecting similar proposals.
His call followed an announcement by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, November 13, that the government will, from 2026, begin the procurement of four modern helicopters, one long-range aircraft, and one medium-range aircraft. The fleet is expected to be delivered within four years as part of efforts to enhance the Ghana Air Force’s operational capabilities.
Dr. Ato Forson Forson explained that the acquisitions have become necessary due to the ageing nature of the current fleet, whose high maintenance costs and limited reliability have weakened the Air Force’s preparedness. The new aircraft will support key national operations including aerial surveillance, troop and logistics transport, maritime patrols, air defence operations, disaster response, and medical evacuations.
But addressing Parliament on Thursday, November 20, Mr. Nitiwul questioned why the government had repeatedly declined previous requests for strategic aircraft purchases, only to approve them now.
“If there is anybody in this room who knows the needs of the military, I have served them for eight years,” he said.
“It is not in our interest as a country not to have a strategic lift. We need it.”
The former Defence Minister accused the government of inconsistency and urged it to explain its earlier resistance to such acquisitions.
“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,” he added.
Mr. Nitiwul maintained that the Ghana Armed Forces have long required enhanced air mobility to effectively carry out national missions and respond to security threats. With the new procurement now on the table, he insists the government must justify the shift in position to ensure accountability and transparency in defence spending.