By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayeribi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, says government must not prioritise buying two new presidential jets when the country is facing serious economic and social challenges.
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the former Minister for Works and Housing explained that Ghana is only beginning to recover from a very difficult economic period after taking painful steps to stabilise the economy. He said that at a time when citizens are struggling with poor healthcare delivery, rising unemployment, and major infrastructure gaps, purchasing two executive jets should not top the government’s agenda.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah argued that focusing on the comfort of the President while essential national problems remain unsolved sends the wrong message. According to him, issues such as inadequate hospitals, job shortages, and uncompleted infrastructure projects deserve urgent attention.
He also noted that debates about presidential travel have long been politicised by the current government, even though previous presidents, including John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo, used rented jets when the presidential aircraft had mechanical problems. He said his side did not politicise Mahama’s use of rented aircraft, but the opposition at the time used it to score political points.
Oppong Nkrumah added that it is ironic that those who strongly opposed any discussion about replacing the old presidential jet are now the ones pushing to buy two new jets, even though the same economic and mechanical challenges still exist.
The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee warned that such political contradictions only expose the “propaganda” of the government and do not help the nation. He stressed that Ghana’s political class must stop doing politics with every issue and instead build consensus on matters that offer long-term benefits to citizens.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah urged leaders to focus on structural problems affecting healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure, rather than engaging in debates that do not improve the lives of Ghanaians.
