Peter Lanchene Toobu, the Member of Parliament for Wa West, has told the government that buying a new presidential jet should be one of the priorities.
According to the Wa West MP, a new presidential aircraft would be a more prudent and sustainable investment for Ghana’s long-term security and economic interests.
In a Facebook post on Friday, November 7, 2025, Mr Toobu stated that the frequent repairs and costly maintenance of the presidential jet demonstrate the need for a new replacement.
“Hon Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the dollar respects you, so buying a new presidential jet should be on the front burner. Blend safety and security with economics,” he wrote.
His comment comes on the back of Ernest Brogya Genfi, the Deputy Minister for Defence, providing parliament with updates on Ghana’s presidential aircraft, the Falcon 900 Executive Jet.
According to the Deputy Minister of Defence, the presidential aircraft is in its final stages of testing in France.
The Deputy Minister of Defence detailed that the Falcon 900 Executive Jet was ferried to Dassault Falcon Service in Le Bourget, France, for its mandatory 24-month and 1,600-flying-hour periodic inspection.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Ernest Brogya Genfi stated, “Mr Speaker, the Falcon 900 executive aircraft was ferried to Dassault Falcon Service in Le Bourget, France, on Tuesday, 11 March 2025, for the 24-monthly and 1,600-flying-hours periodic inspection.
This inspection is a mandatory airworthiness requirement that ensures that all main maintenance and due-list tasks compiled for the inspection are completed”.
He added, “After successfully repairing the section of the wing that experienced the leakages, other challenges were encountered while reinstalling the lower panel beneath the wing”.
“Upon completion of the rectification, the aircraft will undergo a leak test of the fuel tanks, a third engine ground run, painting of the wing lower panel, and finally, an acceptance flight will be performed,” he said.
The Deputy Defence Minister further told parliament the Falcon 900 executive aircraft would return to Ghana once all technical tests and safety checks have been completed.
Ghana’s Falcon 900 EX Presidential Jet was purchased in 2009 and arrived in the country in 2010.
It replaced a 37-year-old Fokker 27 aircraft, which was regarded as a flying coffin.
The Falcon 900 EX Presidential Jet has since been grounded at the Dassault Falcon Service facility in Le Bourget, France, due to massive wear and tear issues.
In 2021, the former Akufo-Addo government sought to purchase a new and bigger jet for the Presidency, but faced public backlash over accusations of extravagant travels by Akufo-Addo.
Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) New Juaben North Constituency Chairman, has said the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, told President John Dramani Mahama the presidential jet was a coffin.
According to Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, the late Omane Boamah pointed blankly warned Mahama about Ghana’s presidential jet as not safe.
Speaking on Atinka TV, Boateng-Agyemang stated, “I will never join the conversation about buying a new private jet. Look at what has happened regarding the crash; my family member was involved. I don’t want to make it emotional, but the truth is, they refused to service the aircraft because of what they had said”.
“The report from Omane Boamah to the president was clear. He told him point-blank that the jet Okudzeto Ablakwa was making noise about, when former President Akufo-Addo was using it, was not safe. He said if Mahama sits in it, he, Omane Boamah, would not because the jet was a coffin”, Boateng-Agyemang claimed.