Ghana expects to add a new presidential jet to its state fleet by November 2026, a move officials say will end the need for temporary travel arrangements that have drawn public scrutiny.
In a statement published in full by the GhanaWeb news agency, Callistus Mahama, executive secretary to President John Dramani Mahama, said plans had been hatched to bolster the country’s presidential air transport as part of a wider re-equipping of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Mahama did not disclose the specific model, manufacturer, or contract details for the new presidential aircraft.
"Plans are already underway to strengthen Ghana's presidential air transport capability as part of the broader retooling of the Armed Forces. By November this year, the country is expected to have additional aircraft within the presidential fleet, including one dedicated to the president's travel," he said.
The announcement follows public concerns over the president using a private jet owned by his younger brother, Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama, for a recent state visit to South Korea. This raised questions from opposition politicians about a potential conflict of interest.
According to ch-aviation research, a private jet branded "Dzata" (meaning lion in Ghana) is a new Global 6500, N969EP (msn 60193), which was ferried from Montréal Trudeau via London Luton to Accra between February 28 and March 3.
The Ghana Air Force (Accra) already operates one 15.5-year-old Falcon 900EX EASy, 9G-EXE (msn 0241), as a presidential jet, but the aircraft has been parked at Accra since March 3. GhanaWeb reports that it lacks the range to fly to, say, South Korea without multiple refuelling stops. The Falcon 900 had recently returned to service after months of mandatory maintenance and major repairs at Dassault Falcon Service in France. During its 24-month inspection, technicians reportedly detected significant fuel tank and engine defects.
Mahama cited limitations in Ghana’s current state aircraft, such as technical constraints and unsuitability for long-haul diplomatic missions, as factors behind the president's interim travel arrangements with his brother. Commercial travel, he added, is often impractical for a sitting president due to security and logistical demands.
The planned acquisition of additional aircraft, including one dedicated to presidential use, is expected to restore full reliance on state-owned assets and improve safety and efficiency in official travel, he added.
Mahama emphasised that the issue underscores broader efforts under the administration’s 'Reset Agenda' to rebuild institutions and public trust, noting that reforms to military and aviation capacity are ongoing.
