The former deputy Minister for Power, John Jinapor has strongly dismissed claims that some helicopters purchased by the erstwhile Mahama administration for Ghana Gas are missing.

According to Mr. Jinapor, the helicopters are in the care of the Ghana Air Force since Ghana Gas lacks the expertise to protect the helicopters.
Reports had indicated that three helicopters for Ghana Gas Company purchased at a cost of 150 million dollars by the previous administration are missing and cannot be traced.

The co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr. Steve Manteaw who is also a member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) said “sources close to Ghana Gas revealed that indeed the helicopters were bought and that they are being kept somewhere” adding “and I’m not too sure where…”

He continued that “so it is early days yet to conclude that they are missing and that for now we just couldn’t find them at the project but it does not mean that they are missing. So we just need to find out where they are and in which condition and shape they are in now.”

But speaking on Morning Starr Wednesday, Mr. Jinapor described the claims as strange and unfortunate.

“We procured four helicopters and they were commissioned by John Mahama in public. Ghana Gas does not have the pilots and expertise to fly the helicopters…the helicopters are not supposed to be parked at Atuabo…the Ghana Armed Forces was asked to manage the helicopters.”

Mr. Jinapor told host Francis Abban “the helicopters are not missing…before I left office, the helicopters were in good shape and were working…the management saying they do not know about the procurement of the helicopters is surprising.”