Govt denies Chronicle story On old Prez Jet
THE Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Nana Ato Dadzie, has said that no agreement has been reached with any company to service the old Presidential Jet, Fokker 28, for any amount.
Reacting to a front page story in the Ghanaian Chronicle of Thursday, June 27, 2000 Nana Ato Dadzie said the Fokker 28 (G530) is due for routine servicing in September 2000, to undergo what is technically referred to as Routine Check D.
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This category of servicing is to check for the structural integrity and corrosion, the Chief of Staff said.
He added that in response to a request by the Ghana Air Force for approval for this check and also for the reconfiguration of the aircraft from the present 26 seats to a 48 seater capacity, the Office of the President gave approval for the Chief of Air Staff to enter into preliminary discussions with Fokker Services BV and to obtain tentative cost for the consideration of Cabinet.
The letter to the Chief of Air Staff with reference NO.OP/017/COS dated June 8, 2000 a copy of which is in the possession of the Daily Graphic, stated in unambiguous terms that "final approval will only be given if the cost involved is manageable".
The Chief of Staff indicated that no estimate has been given by the Ghana Air Force in respect of the servicing and expressed surprise at how the Chronicle got the estimate of US $7- 12 million quoted in the story.
He described the story as completely distorted and misleading.
The Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr. J. K. Bebaako-Mensah on his part said the issue has not come before Cabinet and denied that there was any Cabinet meeting last Thursday.
Sources at the Ghana Air Force told the Graphic that although the parent company of Fokker is facing some financial problems, the company has a subsidiary called Stock BV which services Fokker Aircraft.
The source said the Fokker 27 Aircraft used by the Ghana Air Force are serviced by that company.
The F28, according to the source went for major checks in Holland in June last year.
The source noted "one can not sell aircraft and decide one day to pack off without trace as if he sold bananas. Fokker may be facing problems but it owes an obligation to those who operate its aircraft".
When the Graphic contacted the Chief of Air Staff he confirmed that he was contacted by the Chronicle reporter on phone and it was agreed that the reporter calls at his office yesterday Thursday for details only to read the story in the paper yesterday even before the scheduled meeting.
Meanwhile Graphic can confirm that the said aircraft is still in its hanger at the Air Force Station.
