President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana has taken delivery of its first new military helicopter, with three more expected to arrive in the coming months as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s air defence capabilities.
The President made the disclosure on Monday, March 30, 2026, during a ceremony at which he received credentials from five newly appointed envoys, including the Ambassador-Designate of France, H.E. Diarra Dime Labille.
According to him, the acquisition forms part of a broader initiative to modernise the Ghana Armed Forces, which has in recent years relied on an ageing and overstretched air fleet.
Mahama explained that the procurement was made possible through the support of French President, H.E. Emmanuel Macron, noting that four helicopters have been secured under the arrangement. One has already been delivered, while timelines have been set for the arrival of the remaining aircraft.
He also expressed appreciation to Eurocopter for expediting the delivery process.
The addition of the new helicopters is expected to significantly improve the operational readiness of the Ghana Armed Forces, particularly in areas such as rapid deployment, surveillance, and emergency response.
President Mahama emphasised that the upgrade of the air fleet is part of ongoing efforts to enhance national security and address capability gaps resulting from years of dependence on outdated equipment.
