The Ghana Air Force has officially taken delivery of a newly acquired Airbus H175 helicopter from France, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing modernization of its operational fleet.
The state-of-the-art aircraft arrived at the Air Force Base in Accra on Thursday, March 5, 2026, following a ferry flight from Marignane, France, that navigated a route through Spain and along the West African Atlantic coast.
This acquisition is part of a broader, Parliament-approved defense procurement program designed to enhance the operational capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces and replace aging equipment.
Upon touchdown, the helicopter was honored with a traditional water cannon salute and consecrated by the clergy, led by the Director General of Religious Affairs, Brigadier General Benjamin Godson Kumi Wood.
The arrival was witnessed by high-ranking officials, including the Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, and the Deputy Head of Mission for the French Embassy, His Excellency Raphael Pont, underscoring the strong defense cooperation between Ghana and France.
The H175 is the first of a larger initiative that includes the future addition of another H160, two more H175s, and a Falcon 6X long-range aircraft. Equipped with advanced avionics and increased payload capacity, the new helicopter is expected to significantly improve the Air Force’s capabilities in search and rescue, medical evacuation, maritime surveillance, and disaster response.
Before entering active service, the aircraft will undergo rigorous post-delivery inspections, aircrew conversion training, and formal induction into the national operational inventory to ensure maximum mission readiness.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
