Ghana Airforce to take delivery of new aircraft

Takoradi, June 25, GNA - The Ghana Airforce is expected to take delivery of Falcon 900EX aircraft soon to augment its fleet, Air Vice Marshall Michael Samsom-Oje, Chief of Air Staff said in Takroadi on Friday.

He said the new acquisition "is coming with a package of infrastructural support including hangars, as well as ground support equipment".

The Air Vice-Marshall was to have reviewed a parade of officers and men of the Takoradi Airforce base, but a six-hour heavy down pour prevented t he event from taking place, however, his prepared speech was made available to the Ghana News Agency journalist who went there to cover the event.

The administrative inspection was aimed at evaluating and assessing the state of readiness of the Air force to perform its operational tasks. He said all the Airforce Bases shall to be kept in anticipation of t he arrival of the new platforms while training of the crew of the various platforms would commence soon starting with that of the Falcon, including

pilots, engineers, suppliers and flight attendants. "I am pleased to say that the first batch of pilots has departed for

the Falcon ground and simulator training," he said.

Air Vice-Marshall Samson-Oje expressed gratitude to the oil companie s which have located their operations to their premises and have supported the base and the Air Force.

The Air Vice-Marshall said despite the numerous constraints confront ing the Airforce, they should eschew negative tendencies and apply profession al skills in all sphere of their operation, warning that, anyone who misconducts him or herself would not be spared.

"We have witnessed cases of theft of fuel, unauthorized operations, "sakawa', land guard duties, disrespect for superiors, abuse of civilians

and other security agencies, our work etiquette has left much to be desir ed". He expressed regret that the practice where personnel preferred pursuing private interests rather than that of the profession, was contra ry to the principles and their professional upbringing, and warned that his administration would not tolerate that and would sanction them. Touching on salaries, Air Vice-Marshall Samson-Oje assured that thei r pension shall now be based on 50 percent of their last consolidated pay before retirement and not 25 percent of the basic as it was in the past.