A member of the parliamentary Defence and Interior Committee has raised concerns over the condition of three Ghana Police Service helicopters, calling them “flying coffins” and warning they remain grounded nearly five decades after their manufacture.

Ernest Henry Norgbey, the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, said the helicopters—built in 1976—were “not fit for purpose” and posed a significant safety risk, highlighting the broader challenges facing the country's security infrastructure.

The issue has gained renewed public attention following last week’s fatal military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people, including Ghana’s Defence Minister and Environment Minister. Critics have questioned whether the police aircraft, had they been operational, could have played a role in the rescue efforts.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnite, Mr. Norgbey said the helicopters have never been deployed since their delivery and currently sit idle in a hangar. “A 1976 aircraft, that is a flying coffin,” he said, referring to the nearly 50-year-old machines. “They cannot be used—they are unsafe and outdated.”

The grounding of the helicopters adds to a growing list of challenges faced by Ghana’s law enforcement agencies, which have long struggled with limited resources and aging infrastructure.

Adding to the controversy, Mr. Norgbey also cited delays in the arrival of another set of helicopters promised by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2021. At the time, the president pledged the delivery of three new aircraft by November of that year, along with pilot training and facility upgrades. However, the aircraft never materialized.

Mr. Norgbey attributed the delay to Ghana’s ongoing debt restructuring efforts, part of broader fiscal challenges the West African nation has faced in recent years. “We were made to understand that was due to the debt restructuring during that period,” he noted.

The absence of both functional and modern police helicopters raises serious questions about Ghana’s ability to respond quickly to national emergencies—particularly at a time when security threats are becoming increasingly complex.

As public scrutiny intensifies, lawmakers and citizens alike are pressing for greater transparency and accountability in government procurement and defense logistics.