Management of Ghana Gas has denied reports that four helicopters acquired during the regime of former President John Dramani Mahama had gone missing.
According to a statement issued by the Corporate Communications Department of Ghana Gas, the helicopters are currently stationed at the Ghana Air Force Headquarters at Burma Camp.
The Ghana Gas indicated that the company mandated the Air Force to operate and maintain the helicopters and further stressed that they are "in good working condition and not broken down as erroneously reported."
"Ghana Gas does not have the expertise and hangers to operate and maintain the helicopters. The Ghana Air Force, however, possesses such facilities. Ghana Gas, therefore, mandated the Ghana Air Force to operate and maintain them on its behalf. The helicopters are in good working condition and not broken down as erroneously reported. It is worth noting that there is a helipad at the Atuabo Main Camp."
'No helicopter missing'- Kwabena Donkor
Former Power minister Kwabena Donkor had earlier rubbished reports that some helicopters belonging to the Ghana Gas company have gone missing.
He says the choppers costing $150m are "securely parked in the hangars of the Ghana Airforce at the Air force base in Accra".
It was a leading member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee Dr. Steve Manteaw who went public with the claim that the three choppers could not be traced.
According to him, the management of Ghana Gas at Atuabo in the Western Region expressed surprise about the purchase of the helicopters especially as there is no helipad there.
There were suggestions, they may not have been delivered by the supplier after payment or that they are missing.
The claim was corroborated by the Monitoring and Evaluation minister Dr. Akoto Osei who also claimed the helicopters were over-priced.
Read full statement below:
GHANA GAS RESPONDS TO MISSING HELICOPTERS ALLEGATION
The Management of Ghana Gas wishes to respond to an allegation circulating in the media regarding the whereabouts of the helicopters, procured to provide surveillance services to the oil and gas installations in the Western Region.
The company wishes to make it known to all stakeholders and the public that on Wednesday, 23rd September, 2015, then President, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama commissioned the four Z-9 EH helicopters at the Air Force Station at Burma Camp.
The helicopters were to ensure adequate security surveillance of the nation's oil and gas enclave in the Western Region.
Four (4) helicopters in total, not seven (7) as reported by some media outlets, were acquired. The said helicopters were procured from China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).
The contract to that effect was signed on 21st December, 2017. The helicopters are currently stationed at the Air Force Headquarters at Burma Camp.
Ghana Gas does not have the expertise and hangers to operate and maintain the helicopters. The Ghana Air Force, however, possesses such facilities. Ghana Gas, therefore, mandated the Ghana Air Force to operate and maintain them on its behalf.
The helicopters are in good working condition and not broken down as erroneously reproted.
It is worth noting that there is a helipad at the Atuabo Main Camp.
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