The Ghanaian Vice President John Dramani Mahama was interviewed recently about the investment of new aircraft for the country’s military forces.  During this interview, he said that the country was expecting to take delivery of four Mi-171SH helicopters by July.  This corroborates with the story we filed in November 2011 when a budget request was referred to the joint Committees of Finance and Defense for consideration.  The proposed cost of 64,365,584.79 euros has been approved, although it is not clear from our investigation how this was funded – one named option was a medium term loan facility via Fidelity Bank.

The proposal – and now the impending delivery – of the helicopter has not gone down well in the West Afrian nation.  Not only is the global recession hitting the country hard but there is a political aspect too.  At the last election, the losing NPP party argued against any aircraft spending, saying that the money would be better used in other sectors of the economy.  The winning/ruling NDC party has clearly gone the opposite route with the purchase of these helicopters and other aircraft including two CASA 295 transport aircraft and three Diamond surveillance aircraft.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com