The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that Ghana’s Falcon 900EX Easy is still undergoing maintenance in France.

According to the minister, the prolonged delay in servicing the jet is due to extensive damage discovered, including corrosion.

“The presidential jet, based on the last briefing we had in Cabinet, is still being serviced in France. The president has explained to the public that it went for routine servicing, and it was discovered that there was massive corrosion. I think the late defence minister was also in Parliament to provide details. He indicated that the massive corrosion has led to a long delay in the servicing of the presidential jet,” the minister disclosed during his engagement with the media under the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House on Monday, September 15, 2025.

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When asked about the president’s current foreign travel arrangements in the absence of the jet, Ablakwa emphasised that President John Dramani Mahama, despite various claims, is not worried about relying on alternative means, including commercial flights.

“President Mahama has not complained about commercial travel. I have seen some people say, ‘President Mahama spent 22 hours in Dubai, and they blame me for that.’ I saw a colleague of yours blaming me, saying that if President Mahama had his way, he would have chartered a luxury jet, but because I am foreign minister, he cannot do that.

“That is so unfair to President Mahama. It was just propaganda; it is not true. No president would be allowed to be stranded at an airport. Let us get serious and stop this childish propaganda. We have a consulate in Dubai and a full mission in the UAE. Do you think our foreign service officials would keep their jobs if it came to my attention that the Commander-in-Chief, our president, was stranded at an airport in Dubai because he couldn’t charter a jet? Please, let’s credit the Ghanaian people with some discernment and a modicum of wisdom. It’s just propaganda. Some people clearly want to justify past actions and whitewash them,” he stated.



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Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was highly critical of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his use of private jets in the absence of the Falcon, has recently faced criticism following President Mahama’s assumption of office.

According to some of the minister’s critics, the current situation vindicates Akufo-Addo, and they have demanded an apology from Ablakwa to the former president.

However, addressing the press on September 15, the minister maintained that his criticism stemmed from conviction and opposition to profligacy by the former president.

“President Akufo-Addo himself told us that he was coming to protect the public purse. I do not see why some people want to use this as an opportunity to settle political scores and come after me in the most unfair manner. Everything I stood for, I still stand for, and I maintain that Ghana needs a presidential travel policy,” he said.

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