Keypoints:
- Ghana opposition MPs demand probe into Mahama jet use
- Government says private jet travel reduces costs
- Debate revives scrutiny of Ghana’s presidential aircraft
A POLITICAL row has broken out in Ghana after opposition lawmakers demanded an investigation into President John Mahama’s use of a private jet owned by his brother for recent foreign trips.
Members of the opposition New Patriotic Party have argued that the arrangement may breach the code of conduct for public officials and could create a conflict of interest, according to local media reports and public comments from opposition figures. The issue has quickly become a test of the Mahama administration’s claims of transparency and prudent governance.
The dispute goes beyond travel logistics. It has reopened questions about ethics in public office, the condition of Ghana’s official presidential aircraft, and how the president balances public duty with the use of private family resources while stepping up regional and international diplomacy.
Opposition calls for investigation
Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama, an opposition MP, has been among those pressing for a formal inquiry into the president’s travel arrangements. He said the use of a private aircraft linked to a close family member raises governance and ethical concerns.
Opposition figures say the core issue is whether state officials should rely on assets owned by immediate relatives for official assignments, even if the arrangement appears cheaper than a commercial charter.
The controversy is likely to sharpen wider debate over accountability under an administration that has repeatedly framed its agenda around reform, trust in institutions and responsible leadership, themes Mahama has also stressed in his broader governance messaging. For broader policy context, see Africa Briefing’s reports on Mahama’s 2026 State of the Nation reset agenda and his wider economic reform pitch.
Government says arrangement saves money
The government has rejected the opposition’s claims and insists there is no conflict of interest.
Felix Ofosu Kwakye, Minister of State for Government Communications, defended the travel arrangement, saying it significantly reduces costs for the state.
Speaking on Joy FM, Kwakye said the government only pays operational expenses when the aircraft is used.
‘The government pays only for fuel and landing charges, which is far cheaper than chartering an aircraft for presidential travel,’ he said.
Kwakye rejected suggestions of a conflict of interest, insisting the arrangement was adopted as a practical response to operational challenges surrounding the presidential aircraft.
That defence has become central to the government’s argument that the decision represents a cost-saving measure rather than a governance lapse.
The dispute comes at a politically sensitive time for Mahama, who has been projecting a more active regional and international posture. Africa Briefing recently examined that shift in How Mahama is reshaping Ghana’s diplomacy.
Questions over Ghana’s presidential jet
The debate has also drawn fresh attention to Ghana’s official presidential aircraft, a Falcon 900EX EASy acquired in 2009.
According to the information now under discussion in Ghana, the aircraft spent around eight months undergoing maintenance in Europe before returning to the country in November last year. Yet questions remain over whether it is fully airworthy.
Ofosu Kwakye said the presidential jet has broken down several times in the past, creating safety and reliability concerns for long-distance travel. That explanation has helped the government present the use of a private aircraft as a temporary and cost-conscious workaround rather than a preferential arrangement.
Foreign trips add to scrutiny
The row has intensified as Mahama travels abroad to deepen diplomatic ties and attend multilateral events.
He is currently in South Korea on a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. He has also travelled recently to Ethiopia for an African Union summit and to Tanzania for events tied to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Those trips have given opposition critics more ammunition, while the presidency appears keen to show that Ghana is becoming more active in continental diplomacy and economic engagement. For wider background, Africa Briefing has reported on the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, the continent’s push for economic unity and independence, and Mahama’s own message at TICAD on reform and investment. Readers can also find official institutional background from the African Union and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Spotlight falls on Ibrahim Mahama
At the centre of the row is Ibrahim Mahama, the president’s brother and one of Ghana’s best-known business figures, with interests spanning mining, construction and agriculture.
His aircraft has been used for some of the president’s recent trips, placing him directly in the middle of a controversy that blends public ethics, logistics and political optics.
He has also recently attracted attention after acquiring a new jet and donating his previous aircraft for use as an air ambulance, a move that won praise in some quarters but has not insulated the current arrangement from political attack.
For additional political and economic context around Mahama’s presidency, readers can also explore Africa Briefing’s reports on the launch of Ghana’s 24-hour economy and his mining reform agenda. As the debate grows, the government’s defence may satisfy supporters, but the opposition is likely to keep pressing the matter as a broader question of public accountability.
