Miracles Aboagye Slams Mahama Administration Over $60M Presidential Jet Purchase, Calls It ‘Sin and Crime’
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, spokesperson for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has fiercely condemned the Mahama administration’s decision to acquire a new presidential jet, labeling it a betrayal of public trust and a blatant hypocrisy just 11 months after campaigning against such extravagance.
In a scathing Facebook post, Aboagye accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of mocking Ghanaians amid escalating economic hardships. He pointed out that the administration has imposed over a 28% hike in utility tariffs, terminated the jobs of around 35,000 young workers, and left promised automatic postings for nurses and teachers unfulfilled, all while prices for goods soar despite falling inflation and exchange rates.
Parliament recently approved a $60.68 million agreement between the Ministry of Defence and France’s Dassault Aviation for the purchase of a Falcon 6X aircraft, intended for the Ghana Air Force. Lawmakers also endorsed a €125 million deal with Airbus Helicopters SAS for one H160 and three H175 multipurpose helicopters. The government frames these acquisitions as essential for modernizing an aging fleet, enabling operations like aerial surveillance, troop transport, maritime patrols, disaster response, and medical evacuations. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2026 over a four-year period, with initial payments starting in December 2025.
Aboagye highlighted the irony, recalling how the NDC, in opposition, vehemently opposed similar proposals under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration. “You said renting a plane was wrong because the current presidential jet was in pristine condition. You said buying a plane was wrong because the country was poor,” he wrote. “The country listens to you, trusts and votes massively for you. Then under 11 months, you turn around to buy a more expensive Presidential jet for the President to bath and cook in the air? And you think this is funny?”
He described the move as “a sin, a crime, disrespectful to the people,” questioning what happened to the NDC’s principles and honor. Aboagye urged the government to abandon distractions, fulfill campaign promises, and prioritize the suffering citizens, noting that Ghanaians are stuck with the administration for the next three years. “Time is up, get to work—the citizens are suffering!”
The criticism echoes broader political tensions, with the NPP minority in Parliament demanding explanations for the sudden shift, especially after rejecting prior retooling requests.
Former Works and Housing Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah echoed concerns, arguing that procuring jets amid economic recovery is not a priority when healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure demand urgent attention.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson had announced the procurement plans on November 13, 2025, emphasizing the unsustainable maintenance costs of the current fleet, including the Falcon 900EX, which has limited operational readiness. Despite the backlash, NDC MPs like Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa defended the deals as prudent investments for national security, contrasting them with what they called wasteful chartering under the prior regime.
