A political dispute has erupted in Ghana over President John Mahama’s use of a private jet owned by his brother for official foreign trips.
Lawmakers from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called for an investigation. MP Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama argued that using the aircraft could violate the code of conduct for public officials and create a potential conflict of interest.
However, the government has rejected those claims. Felix Ofosu Kwakye, Ghana’s Minister of State for Government Communications, told Joy FM that the arrangement actually reduces costs for taxpayers because the government only pays fuel and landing charges when the aircraft is used.
The controversy comes amid questions about the reliability of Ghana’s official presidential aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy acquired in 2009. The jet recently returned from eight months of maintenance in Europe, but officials say it has experienced breakdowns in the past.
President Mahama has been travelling frequently in recent weeks, including visits to South Korea to strengthen bilateral relations, to Ethiopia for an African Union summit, and to Tanzania for the 20th anniversary of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The jet belongs to businessman Ibrahim Mahama, the president’s brother, who is one of West Africa’s prominent entrepreneurs with investments in mining, construction and agriculture. He recently purchased a new private aircraft and donated his older jet to be used as a nationwide air ambulance.
Source: TRT Afrika
