Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, has expressed deep concern over the sharp decline in Ghana’s air defence capabilities, warning that the country’s ability to respond to emergencies, transport troops, and provide disaster relief is being dangerously compromised.
His concerns follow the tragic Ghana Air Force helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, which claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians, including two cabinet ministers, and has reignited debate about the state of the nation’s military aviation assets.
Drawing on figures from the Armed Forces Security Council Report, Mr. Cudjoe revealed that most of the country’s key military aircraft are now grounded, with some dismantled for spare parts, despite years of heavy national borrowing.
According to the data he cited, Ghana’s fleet of MI-17 helicopters, of which four were acquired in 2013, has been reduced to just one operational unit.
Similarly, of the three Casa 295 transport aircraft purchased in 2013 and 2015, only one remains in service. The situation is the same for the four Z-9 helicopters procured in 2015—only one is currently operational.
“Limited air assets reduce Ghana’s ability to respond to emergencies, transport troops, or provide disaster relief,” he said, adding that the country’s operational readiness is now far below acceptable levels for a nation of its size and regional importance.
Procurement Concerns
Mr. Cudjoe also revisited concerns about the procurement processes that led to the acquisition of these aircraft, noting that the deals faced opposition at the time over the “usual opacity and unclear value for money considerations.”
While the aircraft were purchased under past administrations, he emphasised that the real issue goes beyond acquisition to the broader question of maintenance and sustainability.
What troubles him most is the stark contrast between Ghana’s deteriorating air defence capability and the scale of national borrowing in recent years.
He pointed out that while the country has taken on approximately €13 billion in debt—not for the purpose of buying military aircraft—the decline in operational capacity raises questions about whether sufficient resources are being allocated to maintain the assets already in service.
“This is a reminder that military investment must be paired with transparent procurement, maintenance funding, and consistent oversight to ensure both readiness and value for public money.”
Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education
Lack of Sustained Investment
In his view, the lack of sustained investment in upkeep has rendered much of the air fleet ineffective, effectively wasting the large sums initially spent on procurement.
The revelations come at a time when Ghana’s security forces face mounting demands, from responding to natural disasters to participating in peacekeeping missions and addressing regional security threats.
Without adequate airlift capacity, these operations become more difficult and costly, potentially undermining the country’s ability to meet both domestic and international obligations.
Analysts note that military aircraft require regular and costly maintenance to remain airworthy, and that spare parts, skilled personnel, and routine inspections are non-negotiable elements of operational readiness.
In some cases, the cannibalisation of grounded aircraft for spare parts may be a short-term necessity, but over time it reduces the overall fleet size and weakens the force’s long-term capabilities.
Mr. Cudjoe’s intervention echoes broader calls for improved transparency and accountability in public sector procurement—not only in defence but across all areas of government spending.
For him, the issue is not simply about the military, but about the fundamental governance principle that expensive state assets should be maintained and managed in a way that delivers value over their intended lifespan.
While Ghana’s military remains respected in the region, particularly for its contributions to peacekeeping, the IMANI President’s comments highlight the risk of operational decline if strategic assets are not properly maintained. This, he warned, could erode both the credibility and the effectiveness of the armed forces.
In concluding his assessment, Mr. Cudjoe reiterated that national borrowing should translate into tangible improvements in infrastructure and services, including the operational capacity of critical state institutions like the armed forces.
Without this link between investment, oversight, and sustained functionality, he suggested, the country risks a cycle of expensive acquisitions followed by rapid decline, leaving key sectors unable to perform their mandates effectively.
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