The Minister of State responsible for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has defended President John Mahama’s decision to use a private jet owned by his brother for official international trips.
He explained that the arrangement is only temporary and was made necessary because the state currently lacks a dependable aircraft for presidential travel.
Speaking on Joy FM, Mr. Kwakye said the President’s use of the aircraft belonging to businessman Ibrahim Mahama is simply a stopgap measure while the government works to obtain a more reliable jet for official use.
According to him, the decision also helps the state avoid the high cost of chartering planes for presidential travel while plans are underway to procure a new aircraft.
“The state of Ghana currently has a gap when it comes to transporting the president,” Mr. Kwakye said, adding that Ibrahim Mahama already owned the aircraft long before his brother assumed office, a fact he said was widely known.
He noted that instead of spending large sums of taxpayers’ money on rented planes, the President opted to keep using the same aircraft temporarily until the government finalizes arrangements to acquire a new one.
“The president believes that rather than burden taxpayers with the cost of renting an aircraft, he should continue using the plane he had previously been using until the state’s new arrangement is in place,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for Abura Asebu-Kwamankese questioned why the issue had become controversial, arguing that the arrangement actually helps the country save money.
“So I ask: why should saving the nation money be a problem for anyone?” he queried.
Mr. Kwakye also dismissed claims that the arrangement amounts to accepting a gift or creates a conflict of interest. He argued that such concerns would only be valid if the state already had a functioning aircraft that the President chose to ignore in favor of renting his brother’s jet.
“If the state had a working aircraft and the president ignored it and instead rented his brother’s plane at the expense of the state, then there would be grounds to raise concerns about conflict of interest or profiteering,” he explained.
He further disclosed that the existing presidential aircraft has been deemed unreliable by the Ghana Air Force.
According to him, the Air Force has advised against using the aircraft for presidential travel due to security risks and frequent mechanical issues.
“The Air Force has indicated that because of security concerns and recurring breakdowns, they would not recommend it for presidential use,” he said.
“They have also noted that it has proven unreliable in operation and is expensive to maintain, as even minimal use often requires repairs.”
Mr. Kwakye added that the government has already begun the process of acquiring a new aircraft for presidential travel.
“Until that happens, the president has decided to continue with this arrangement, which does not place a significant financial burden on the state,” he said.
He emphasized that the arrangement is not permanent and will only remain in place until the government secures a reliable aircraft.
His comments come after the Member of Parliament for Walewale, Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama, accused President Mahama of violating the Code of Conduct for government appointees by repeatedly using his brother’s private jet for official international trips.
The lawmaker argued that the arrangement raises ethical concerns and described it as a “clear conflict of interest,” stressing that public officials—especially the President—should avoid situations that could cast doubt on their ethical standards or suggest undue advantage.
