Presidential jet grounded - Air travel worthiness uncertain
Ghana’s presidential jet has been grounded at the Dassault Falcon Service facility in Le Bourget, France, for four months due to what has been described as massive wear and tear issues.
The current state of the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy jet include fuel tank contamination, the turbofan engine problems and other vital components, sources, which engineers say put it at risk of engine failure during flight.
Government sources indicated that the jet was sent to the Dassault Falcon Service facility for the mandatory 24-month inspection, during which the massive extent of corrosion was detected.
Meanwhile, outstanding maintenance activities on the flight include further work on the feeder tanks, pending feedback from Dassault Aviation.
Further works
High-level sources within the government indicated to the Daily Graphic that the jet's maintenance issues were more extensive than initially thought.
Indeed, the second engine's air intake plug receptacle is also said to have shown signs of corrosion, while the starter-generator is experiencing intermittent tripping, requiring the replacement of the turbofan.
Further works being carried out on the presidential jet are paint works being done in the hangar, focusing on areas that underwent corrosion treatment, including the wings and engine components.
The aircraft, which was sent for routine maintenance works on March 11 this year, was initially due for delivery to Ghanaian authorities on March 26, this year.
But the delivery date has now been extended to the end of July 2025 due to the magnitude of work required on the jet.
The extended maintenance period has been attributed to the complex nature of the corrosion treatment and the sourcing of a replacement turbofan.
Defence Minister
The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has blamed the current condition of the Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy jet on years of neglect by the previous administration, including not honouring the mandatory manufacturer-level inspections and repairs.
He, however, assured the public that the government was exploring cost-effective and safe options to address the issue.
There is a wave of uncertainty over the health of the presidential jet, with concerns particularly about the reliability and safety of the aircraft that serves as the official air travel medium for the President and other high-ranking government officials.
A security analyst, Emmanuel Kotin, has described the jet as a "flying coffin" due to the safety concerns.
The latest development has sparked concerns about the ageing presidential jet, which has become accustomed to the new pattern of longer treatment schedules during the maintenance period in recent years.
In 2020 and 2021, the jet experienced no delays at the maintenance facility abroad, but in 2022 and 2023, the maintenance period was extended for two and a half months longer than originally scheduled.
In 2024, it experienced a two-month overstay at the maintenance facility.
As of July 11, 2025, the jet has been grounded for exactly four months.
At the start of his second term, President John Dramani Mahama fell on the benevolent gesture of his brother and businessman, Ibrahim Mahama, who offered the President and the state unfettered access to his private jet, which officials have maintained came at no cost to the state.
New jet
In 2021, the government sought to purchase a new and bigger jet for the Presidency, but the public backlash against the idea, stemming from accusations of extravagant travels by the then-President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on private jets, thwarted the intention.
History
The Falcon 900 EX Presidential Jet was purchased in 2009 but arrived in the country in September 2010.
The aircraft replaced a 37-year-old Foker 27 aircraft which became known as the “flying coffin” because it was not considered air-worthy.
