Government has no power to resell the ‘Gulfstream III’ Presidential jet since the aircraft was just leased to Ghana. Government Spokesperson, Kwabena Agyepong says since the previous NDC administration did not buy the aircraft, the best government can do now is to send it back to its original owners.
Government is therefore negotiating with HSBC, the bank, which facilitated the lease agreement because the managers of GALLEN Limited, real owners of the jet remain unknown. The only man known to be connected with GALLEN is former Finance Minister, Kwame Peprah, who is the local representative for the company.
In an interview with JOY FM, Mr. Agyepong said the handover of the jet has been delayed because government has not yet received a copy of the original agreement. Government has however stopped paying the monthly fees for the lease of the aircraft. Mr. Agyepong noted that since management of GALLEN is yet to be identified, government is now dealing with HSBC for the disposal of the jet, which was leased to Ghana for about 24 million dollars.
The present government is finding difficulty because it was not party to the signing of the agreement on the jet. Mr. Agyapong urged the former NDC administration to help bring the controversy surrounding the jet to an end by making the directors of Gallen known to help in the sale of the jet.
President Kufuor has refused to travel on the jet since he came to power in January and rather travels by commercial aircraft due to the controversy surrounding its acquisition and lease agreement.
