The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the cost and transparency surrounding the use of a private jet owned by Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of President John Dramani Mahama, for official presidential travels.
According to the Minority, the issue has become a matter of public interest, prompting them to demand full disclosure of the arrangements and expenses associated with the President’s trips. Lawmakers say it is important for the government to clarify how the travel is funded and whether the arrangement imposes any cost on the state.
The concerns were highlighted by Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho. He revealed that he and Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the MP for Old Tafo, have filed a formal parliamentary question requesting detailed information from the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs.
According to him, the Minority wants Parliament to be informed about the circumstances under which the President travels, the criteria used in selecting the aircraft, the composition of the presidential travel team, and the total cost involved in the trips.
The issue gained attention after President Mahama reportedly used his brother’s private jet for international travel, including a recent trip to South Korea. Critics argue that the arrangement could raise ethical questions and potential concerns about conflict of interest since the aircraft belongs to a close relative of the President.
Some members of the Minority have also argued that it would be difficult to convince the public that such an arrangement comes at no cost to the state. They believe transparency is necessary to ensure that the use of the aircraft complies with government regulations and ethical standards.
However, government officials have defended the decision, explaining that the President’s use of the aircraft is intended to reduce the high cost of chartering private jets for official travel. They maintain that the state only covers operational expenses such as fuel and landing charges rather than paying a full charter fee.
The Minority says it will review the information once the ministers respond to the parliamentary question before deciding on any further action.
