$60 million has been approved by Parliament for the purchase of a Falcon 6X aircraft for the Ghana Air Force under a deal between the Ministry of Defence and Dassault Aviation.

Parliament also greenlit a €125 million agreement with Airbus Helicopters SAS for one H160 and three H175 helicopters.

The government said these acquisitions are part of modernisation and retooling programme aimed at addressing the Air Force’s ageing fleet and improving its operational capabilities.

Here's how many new helicopters the GAF is getting from 2026

The minority caucus had previously questioned the government’s decision to procure new aircraft, asking why earlier requests for similar purchases had been repeatedly turned down.

This follows Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s announcement in Parliament on November 13, 2025, that the government plans to acquire four modern helicopters, one long-range aircraft, and one medium-range aircraft starting in 2026.

The new aircraft are expected to be delivered within four years and will support a variety of Air Force operations, including aerial surveillance, troop and logistics transport, maritime patrols, air defence, disaster response, and medical evacuations.

Dr Ato Forson explained that the acquisitions are necessary because the current fleet is ageing and requires extensive maintenance, which limits operational readiness.

Speaking on November 20, 2025, former Defence Minister and Bimbilla MP Dominic Nitiwul highlighted the urgent need for a strategic lift to strengthen national defence.

“I have served the military for eight years, and I hold the same view now as I did then: it is not in our interest as a country to be without a strategic lift. We need it,” Nitiwul said.

He also challenged the government to justify its previous inaction, adding: “The government should own up. If you want to buy two aircraft now, one long-range and one medium-size, explain why similar purchases were rejected over the past five years, apologise to Ghanaians, and convince us of your plan.”

Meanwhile, watch some videos from the NPP's 2025 Constitution Amendment



AK/AM