Trained Pilots Desert Ghana Airforce Over Lack Of Aircrafts- Mfantseman MP

Vice Chairperson of the Defence and Interior committee of Ghana’s Parliament, Ophelia Mensah Hayford has expressed worrying concern about the high attrrition of trianed pilots from the Ghana Airforce in recent times as a result of the lack of adequate aircrafts.

She noted that, even though the country spents a lot of resources in training pilots for the armed forces, most of the trained pilots are left idle without aircrafts to fly regularly in operational duties for the airforce among others.

The trianed idle pilots are therefore compelled to leave the airforce to other countries and the private sector where their services would be needed due to no or less flying time as a result of the non-existence of logistics especially aircrafts to fly.

Madam Ophelia Mensah Hayford exppressed the concern on the floor of Parliament Saturday December 16, 2023 when she presented the Defence and Interior committee’s report for the approval of the 2024 budget estimates for the Ministry of Defence.

Pilots globbally are assessed based on the their flight time, number of flights in terms of milleage among other factors in order to remain relevant to the aviation sector.

Ghana according to undisclosed sources spent averagely $200,000 in training a single pilot for the Ghana Air-force.

The Vice chairperson who is also the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman constituency in the central region is therefore urging the urgent need for the country to make more resources available for the acquisition of more aircrafts for the Ghana armed foreces including an execitive aircraft for the use of the president.

She emphasised that aircrafts including addiotional fighter jets and helicopters are needed for for rescue and defence purposes, for the air combat capability of the air-force and to strenghthen the surveilance of the country’s air-space especially in the wake of terrorism in the West African sub-region.

Speaking further on the issue in an interview, Ms Ophelia Mensah Hayford explained that, the current jet at the disposal of the president of the republic for official use belongs to the Ghana Armed Forces hence the need for an executive jet.

This she said will enable the airforce have unrestrained access to the aircraft for critical operations in the midst of few.

Meanwhile, the House has approved the sum of Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety-One million, One Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Ghana Cedis (Ghc 3,891,151,856.00) for the Ministry of Defence for the year ending 31st December, 2024.

By Christian Kpesese/www.eagleghana.com