The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has refuted claims made by the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, that the government is spending $1 billion to purchase a presidential jet.

According to him, the $1 billion claims are untrue and “patently false,” accusing the MP of making a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the actual facts.

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Laying down the facts, Kwakye Ofosu, while speaking on JoyNews on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, stated that the total cost for the purchase of aircrafts to retool the Ghana Armed Forces amounts to $300 million, not the purported $1 billion.

Breaking down the number of intended purchases, the minister said the army requires four helicopters, two aircraft, about three large vessels, and several armored personnel carriers.

“They need tools to work with and so the Armed Forces itself are making these requisitions and they say among others that, immediately, they need four helicopters. Together, we call them euro copters because they are manufactured somewhere in Europe.

“When the minister goes to Parliament to lay the bill for the approval process, the details will emerge. They say they need four helicopters, two aircrafts - a medium range one and a long range one, two or three large vessels to patrol our territorial waters, and they need armored personnel carriers,” he explained.

Kwakye Ofosu also explained that the government is still saddled with paying an outstanding amount of $14 million for the procurement of military equipment under the previous government due to the terms of the deal.

He said that although the former government settled half of the total $18 million, the Israeli company supplying the equipment is demanding the remaining balance before delivering the items, and attempts to secure a refund have also proved futile.

“In fact, the NPP had entered into a deal with an Israeli company to procure 19 of them at a total cost of $18 million. They had paid $14 million but the company is insisting that they cannot refund the $14 million if we don't pay the outstanding (sic) and they will not supply the equipment until we have paid because that's a contract that the NPP signed with them,” he disclosed.

The minister added, “So, it makes sense to add the $14 million to it to acquire the 19 armored personnel carriers and then the boots. I've been reviewing the documents and when the minister comes to Parliament, it will become apparent. If you put the armored personnel carriers, the $14 million that is outstanding together with the two aircraft, one medium and one long range, and the four helicopters, it should come roughly somewhere around $300 million.”

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He insisted that the $1 billion claims are false and that the government is not allocating the purported money to purchase a presidential jet.

“So, the claim by Honorable Abu Jinapor and his colleagues in the NPP that we are spending $1 billion to buy presidential jets is patently false. He saw it in the budget and deliberately decided to misrepresent it,” Felix Kwakye Ofosu added.

Claims by Abu Jinapor and the NPP that $1 billion was spent on a presidential jet are false. The total cost for four helicopters, two aircraft, and other armored vehicles will be around $300 million – Felix Ofosu-Kwakye.#PMExpress pic.twitter.com/XSbNUShw8O

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) November 25, 2025