Ghana Air Force
Serial Type c/n Delivery date
9G-EXE Falcon 900EX 241 VIP January 2010
G114 Cessna 172 1 Squadron August 2002
G115 Cessna 172 1 Squadron August 2002
G116 Cessna 172 1 Squadron August 2002
G521 F27-400M 10507 2 Squadron March 1975
G522 F27-400M 10518 2 Squadron October 1975
Note: Only one F27 remains active; the other is stored at Tamale
G530 F28-3000 11125 2 Squadron September 1978
GHF550 C295M 081 2 Squadron November 2011
GHF551 C295M 087 2 Squadron April 2012
GHF552 C295M 146 2 Squadron January 2016
G690 Mi-17V-5 288M01 3 Squadron November 2001
G693 Mi-17V-5 288M04 3 Squadron November 2001
GHF630 Z-9EH Z9-0690 3 Squadron September 2015
GHF631 Z-9EH Z9-0691 3 Squadron September 2015
GHF632 Z-9EH Z9-0692 3 Squadron September 2015
GHF633 Z-9EH Z9-0693 3 Squadron September 2015
GHF694 Mi-171Sh 3 Squadron January 2013
GHF695 Mi-171Sh 3 Squadron January 2013
GHF696 Mi-171Sh 3 Squadron January 2013
GHF697 Mi-171Sh 3 Squadron January 2013
G910 K-8G 4 Squadron March 2007
G911 K-8G 4 Squadron March 2007
G912 K-8G 4 Squadron March 2008
G913 K-8G 4 Squadron March 2008
GHF120 DA42NG MPP 1 Squadron September 2011
GHF121 DA42NG MPP 1 Squadron April 2013
GHF122 DA42NG MPP 1 Squadron April 2013riginally established to provide
logistical support to the ground
and naval forces, the Ghana Air
Force (GHF)’s frontline structure at first
comprised only a transport squadron.
In early 1965, it acquired its first combat-
capable jets from Italy – nine MB326F
trainers – followed by six single-seat
MB326KGs in 1978. Another three
MB326KZs arrived in the early 1990s.
The air force has operated various
helicopters over the years, including the
Sikorsky H-19D, Whirlwind Mk3 and Wessex
Mk53, AB412, SA316B Alouette III, Agusta
A109A, Mi-2, Mi-4, Hughes 269A and Bell- All have now been retired from service
or written off, as have the GHF’s BAe 125,
Britten-Norman BN-2, Bulldog Mk122,
DHC-2, DHC-3, DHC-4, Gulfstream GIII,
Heron and Skyvan fixed-wing types.
To re-equip the FTS, the GHF took delivery
of four MB339As and 12 L-29 Delfins
from Nigeria in 1988-89, followed by two
L-39ZO Albatros trainers from Libya in
May 1999. The initial pair of four Hongdu
K-8s, ordered along with a simulator in
March 2006, arrived in February 2007 and
the second pair the following March.
The GHF took on its first C295 transport
in November 2011 and a second in April - Ghana’s then president, John Dramani
Mahama, announced in November 2014
the acquisition of another C295 plus five
A-29 Super Tucanos. The third C295M
arrived in January 2016 but no evidence of
a contract for the A-29s has appeared.
Recent rotary-wing equipment has been
provided by China and Russia. In December
2004 four Mi-17V-5s were delivered, followed
by four Mi-171Sh helicopters in January - On September 23, 2015, four Chinese-
made Z-9EH helicopters arrived in Accra.
Today, the GHF is composed of 2,000
personnel. Its Flying Wing has three
operational flying squadrons: No 4
Squadron (Fighter Ground Attack) and
No 3 Squadron (Helicopters) at Accra
and No 1 Squadron at Takoradi.
Right: The fi rst pair of Mi-171Sh helicopters
arrived in Accra on December 4, 2012,
followed by the second pair around a week
later. Following reassembly and test fl ights,
all four were offi cially accepted into GHF
service by the Ghanaian president
at an offi cial ceremony on January
5, 2013. They are operated by 3
Squadron at Accra. GHFAbove: Ghana Air Force C295M GHF552 during a pre-delivery test fl ight in Seville. Antonio Muñiz ZaragüetaGhana
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46 // MAY 2018 #362 http://www.airforcesmonthly.comBenin, Ghana, Togo