Ghana Air Force to acquire eight new planes

Accra- Ghana (PANA) -- The Ghana Air Force is to acquire eight new aircraft next year, Vice President John Dramani Mahama announced on Thursday.
Speaking at the inaugurated a 16-seater Falcon 900 EX EASY jet at the Air Force Base in Accra, he said the government would take delivery of an Embraer 190 jet financed by the government of Brazil to improve the strategic lifting capacity of the Ghana Air Force to move troops.
This would be followed by the acquisition of one 50-seater troop transport plane, two light aircraft and four helicopters.
The new presidential jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France,valued at US$37 million would replace the Fokker 28 Presidential Jet which is some 35 years old.
Vice President Mahama said the new plane would from immediate effect become the prime plane that the Air Force would utilise to transport the president and other senior state officials on national and international assignments.
The previous government ordered the plane under a hail protests from the public and opposition which saw it as waste of resources.
Lt-Gen Joseph Smith (Rtd), the Minister of Defence, said both the past and current governments had been instrumental in acquiring the plane adding, "this plane goes beyond political party consideration".