Former Managing Director of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), Nana Akwasi Awuah, has disclosed that the most appropriate time for Ghana to acquire a new presidential jet was in 2021, when a proposal was first taken to Parliament for approval.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Big Issue on Saturday, November 22, Awuah argued that the initial plan involved a gradual commitment and not an outright multi-jet procurement, as proposed in the current budget.
“The best time was in 2021 when we went to Parliament to seek presidential approval to acquire this presidential jet. At the time, there was going to be a commitment spread over a period, not a rushed acquisition as this government is doing.
“We planned to procure one to replace the worn-out jet, but our friends in the NDC argued that the jet was in pristine condition and that there was absolutely no need to acquire a new one at that time. So, what has changed? Just a few months down the line, that pristine condition no longer exists,”he said.
His comments add to mounting criticism of the GH¢13.1 billion allocation for the procurement of new aircraft, which has become one of the most contentious issues in the ongoing debate on the 2026 Budget.
Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, criticised the allocation, describing it as a clear case of misplaced priorities. He questioned the decision to commit such an amount to aircraft procurement at a time when many public sector workers are reportedly unpaid.
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