Former NYA Deputy CEO Claims Air Med Aircraft Maintenance Video Was Staged

Government Explanations Meet Skepticism Over Mysterious Aircraft

In a dramatic escalation of Ghana’s ongoing Air Med aircraft controversy, Akosua Manu, Former Deputy CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), has publicly challenged the government’s official explanation, alleging that the maintenance video circulated by the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, was deliberately staged.

Speaking on Channel One News’ Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, April 9, Manu expressed significant doubts about the authenticity of the video, suggesting that closer examination reveals clear signs of manipulation that warrant further investigation by independent aviation experts.

“The maintenance video they put out there was staged, and I am happy that the MP for Damongo has chosen that route,” Manu emphasized during her interview, raising serious questions about the government’s transparency.

Controversial Aircraft: Timeline of Conflicting Explanations

The controversy began when Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, raised alarming allegations regarding an Air Med aircraft that landed in Ghana and remained for three days, suggesting possible connections to drug trafficking and money laundering.

In response, government spokesperson Felix Ofosu Kwakye took to Facebook on Sunday, April 6, offering an explanation that has since come under intense scrutiny. According to Kwakye’s post, the aircraft’s extended stay was due to:

• Damaged tyres on its landing gear requiring repair
• Engineers being flown in on a separate aircraft
• Necessary maintenance that accounted for the three-day duration

Multiple Inconsistencies Raise Red Flags

Manu highlighted several concerning discrepancies in the government’s account that have fueled public skepticism:

“If I am to broadly pinpoint the concerns, they would start with the conflicting airplane registration numbers, disputed maintenance timelines, the transport cargo legalities involving Air Med, and contradictions regarding the flight’s routing,” she detailed during her interview.

These inconsistencies have prompted calls for a more thorough and independent investigation into the aircraft’s presence and activities while in Ghana, with aviation security experts suggesting the need for greater transparency.

Diplomatic Channels Engaged as Controversy Deepens

The controversy has now reached diplomatic proportions, with Samuel Jinapor, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, appealing to the international diplomatic community for assistance in addressing the matter.

Jinapor has formally written to Maher Kheir, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana, requesting intervention through diplomatic channels concerning the flights that reportedly arrived from Gran Canaria.

Manu expressed support for this approach: “I think that it is the way to go. When this issue started, the first instance where the Ranking Member raised the alarm, I remember the President posted on his social media that an investigation into the matter was necessary.”

Public Demands for Transparency and Accountability

The evolving situation highlights growing concerns about transparency in Ghana’s aviation security protocols and raises questions about the adequacy of the government’s response to serious allegations.

Initial presidential acknowledgment of the need for investigation, followed by what critics describe as a hasty defense by the Minister of State, has created a perception of contradictory positions within the government itself.

“Subsequently, we saw the Minister of State for Government Communication come out in a spirited defense of the matter. But within a day or two, whatever he said raised concerns,” Manu noted, pointing to the rapidly shifting narrative that has characterized the government’s handling of the issue.

What Happens Next?

As diplomatic channels become involved and public scrutiny intensifies, the controversy is likely to remain at the forefront of Ghana’s political discourse in the coming weeks. Key developments to watch include:

• The diplomatic community’s response to Jinapor’s formal request
• Potential parliamentary investigations or hearings
• Further analysis of the disputed maintenance video by aviation experts
• Possible international cooperation in investigating the aircraft’s activities