Military defends sale of Gulfstream jet

The military high command has dismissed assertions that there were underhand dealings in the trade-in of the controversial Gulfstream III jet for four K-8 aircraft and a flight simulator from a Chinese aircraft manufacturer.

It insists the transaction is a fair deal. At a press conference today senior government ministers and the military hierarchy sought to explain details of the transaction, but some questions regarding the intended purchase of the aircrafts remain unanswered.

After two botched attempts to set the record straight on the Gulfstream or G-III transaction, the military finally came clean on some of the issues raised about the transaction.

On hand to provide further clarification were the Attorney General designate Joe Ghartey and Minister for Information and National Orientation, Kwamena Bartels.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshall J. O. Boateng, sought to explain the technical aspects of the deal and the options that were available to government.

According to Air-Vice Marshall Boateng, a decision was taken in August 2004 to reactivate the G?III, which had fallen into a state of disrepair and was depreciating in value.

He explains that the plane had to be attended to any way by the middle of May 2006 to prevent its permanent demise.

Following this, the military sought technical support from Whispering Wings, a firm with expertise in the handling of Gulfstream aircrafts.

The Air Vice Marshall said the firm estimated the cost of refurbishing the aircraft at between 4.46 and 6.46 million dollars and its maximized market value at 6.5 million dollars.

However he stopped short of saying the deal had been concluded. Currently the Gulfstream is with the Chinese manufacturers as government?s show of goodwill to purchase the K-8 aircraft and flight simulator.

On why parliamentary approval was not sought before the transaction was executed, Defence Minister Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor said advice from the Attorney General?s department, suggested that the disposal of the G-3 did not require prior parliamentary approval.

The question of Ghana?s ability to buy the four new aircrafts for the military has attracted public comments. Some have put the cost for a single aircraft at 20 million dollars.

When pushed to the wall to confirm this figure, Dr Addo Kufuor declined to comment and only said the figure was less than the amount being speculated.

But he maintains that if the purchase does not meet parliamentary approval, it will be discontinued with.