The Ghana presidential jet has officially returned to active service after undergoing extensive maintenance and repairs in France for eight months.
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang made the aircraft’s first official trip since its return on Saturday, January 17, 2026, when she flew to Conakry, Guinea, to attend the inauguration of President Mamadi Doumbouya.
The ceremony, held at the Stade Général Lansana Conté, attracted heads of state and high-level delegations from across Africa and beyond. Professor Opoku-Agyemang was accompanied by Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Vice Presidential Spokesperson Ama Pratt. She completed the return journey to Ghana on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
The visit also helped reinforce diplomatic relations between Ghana and Guinea, building on decades of shared history and cooperation at a critical time for the West African sub-region.
Why the Jet Was Grounded for Eight Months
The Falcon 900EX aircraft, with registration number 9G-EXE, was stationed in France from March to November 2025 for comprehensive technical inspections and repairs.
During a routine 24-month and 1,600-hour maintenance check, engineers discovered several critical issues, including corrosion in the fuel tanks and engine systems. These defects required extensive remedial work before the aircraft could be cleared for flight and recertified.
Although the jet maintained its servicing schedule between 2020 and 2021, maintenance timelines began to slip in subsequent years. In both 2022 and 2023, servicing exceeded planned periods by more than two and a half months, followed by an additional two-month extension in 2024.
Speaking in May 2025, the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, attributed the aircraft’s deteriorating condition to prolonged administrative lapses, citing failures to adhere strictly to manufacturer-prescribed inspections and maintenance procedures.
The jet’s return to service marks the end of a prolonged period of downtime and restores a key asset to Ghana’s presidential fleet.
