Ghana’s presidential jet is back in the country after undergoing eight months of extensive mandatory maintenance in France, ending prolonged public speculation over its whereabouts.
The aircraft was officially returned to the Ghana Air Force on November 10, according to IMANI Africa Vice-President Bright Simons.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Simons confirmed the aircraft’s return, stating that it was delivered “safely back into the custody of the Ghana Air Force… exactly eight months after it was sent to the Dassault Falcon Service MRO base at Paris Le Bourget (PLB).”
Mr. Simons explained that the aircraft was in France for a compulsory 24-month and 1,600-hour technical inspection.
During the process, technicians discovered significant defects that required extended repairs and manufacturer support.
“During this extensive inspection, severe defects affecting the fuel tank and a turbofan were discovered, triggering prolonged repairs that could only be done with manufacturer assistance at that specific Dassault facility,” he said.
According to him, all required technical procedures including leak tests, engine ground runs, and acceptance flights have now been completed.
A shortage of certain OEM-certified spare parts contributed to the extended repair timeline.
He added that before the aircraft’s return to Accra, it undertook a positioning flight from Marseille to resolve minor logistical requirements.
The completion of the repair process and the jet’s return to Ghana bring closure to months of public debate and uncertainty surrounding the status of the presidential aircraft.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
