Former Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, has insisted that the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government handed over an airworthy presidential jet to the John Dramani Mahama government.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on August 19, 2025, the former defence minister indicated that the presidential jet, Dassault Falcon 900, had a corroded tank but it was repaired before he (Dominic Nitiwul) left office.
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He said that the then-President Akufo-Addo used the jet and handed it over to President Mahama in a very good state.
“It came back with everything anew after they (manufacturers) worked on it. The servicing was done by the manufacturers; they worked on it and said everything was okay. So, there was no problem with it.
“So, the former president started using it in April 2024. He used it until the time he handed over. That is why, I said that we have given out a jet that is airworthy, serviceable and can fly,” he said.
Nitiwul added that the issue of a faulty tank only returned after the jet was left idle for about a year.
“After using it for one more year, it was found out that the corroded part was still giving the jet problems. So, the Air Force recommended to the new government to send it back to France for further servicing,” he said.
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The former defence minister went on to caution against the politicisation of the issue of presidents’ use of private jets for their travels.
“What we should not be doing is politicking. Even though the former minister is gone, I don’t really want to criticise him, but it was wrong for him to come and start talking about an expensive jet. What is the meaning of expensive jet?… Has he even told Ghanaians the cost? Or is he relying on what Okudzeto said? I think that’s terribly wrong,” he said.
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