AirMed International, operators of medical transport flight N823AM, has denied any involvement with illicit drug trade and money laundering activities following claims made by Rev. Ntim Fordjour, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defense and Interior Committee, regarding the aircraft’s presence at Kotoka International Airport in March 2025.
In a response to a mail query by EIB Network’s Joshua Kodjo Mensah, the U.S.-based air ambulance company categorically denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that the aircraft’s stop in Ghana was a routine technical layover—not part of any covert operation.
“On March 20, 2025, AirMed International aircraft N823AM departed the United States for a scheduled international patient transport. As part of the planned flight path, the aircraft made multiple stops for fuel, including a stop at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana,” the mail reads.
“Upon landing in Ghana, the aircraft experienced a maintenance issue: two blown tires that required replacement. No patient was on board at the time. To address the mechanical issue, a second aircraft was dispatched with the necessary replacement parts, supplies, and two maintenance technicians.”
The aircraft remained grounded in Accra for several days until repairs were completed. It subsequently departed on March 25, 2025, adhering to standard aviation protocols, including a fuel stop at Grand Canaria Airport en route back to the U.S.
AirMed reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and cooperation:
“We will fully cooperate in any official inquiries into N823AM’s presence in Ghana. Flight documentation and mission details will confirm that the aircraft was not involved in any illicit or illegal activity.”
From Allegations to Arrest
The rebuttal comes in response to claims by Rev. Fordjour, who questioned the aircraft’s mission and alleged possible links to drug trafficking and money laundering. His comments stirred public debate and political tension, prompting President John Dramani Mahama to urge him to assist security agencies with further investigations.
However, the government swiftly pushed back, with government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu describing the claims as “misleading and mischievous,” maintaining that all security checks were duly conducted and the aircraft posed no threat to national security.
In a twist of events, reports indicate that NIB operatives visited Rev. Fordjour’s residence on Wednesday, April 9. Sources suggest the arrest attempt was in connection with his recent public statements regarding Flight N823AM. However, intervention by Minority Leader Osahene Alexander Afenyo-Markin reportedly led to a temporary halt in the arrest, leaving questions about the legal implications still unanswered.
