Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations at the Office of the President, Stan Dogbe, has strongly rebutted allegations by New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, that President John Dramani Mahama is traveling on a costly private jet for his official trip to Japan.
The Old Tafo MP had earlier claimed that a private jet with registration number M-BAEP departed Accra around 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and suggested that the aircraft was being used by President Mahama.
He estimated that the journey would cost the state nearly $690,000, covering travel from Accra to Japan, onward to Singapore, Germany, and finally back to Ghana.
According to the NPP MP, the rental rate of the jet stood at $15,000 per hour, which he said amounted to reckless expenditure on the part of the presidency.
Stan Dogbe, however, dismissed the claims as both inaccurate and mischievous. In a strong rebuttal, he emphasized that the president had traveled to Japan on a commercial airline from Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.
“President John Dramani Mahama is on his way to Japan on board a commercial airline from Accra’s Kotoka International Airport. There are right-thinking Ghanaians on board with him.”
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe
He questioned the credibility of Old Tafo MP’s claims, pointing out that the president was physically present in Accra later that same morning attending a public event.
“The president was live on many TV networks between 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., attending the thanksgiving mass of Dr Edward Omane Boamah at the Christ the King Parish. Did he take off in the supposed jet at 7:00 a.m. and fly back for the 10:30 a.m. mass? I guess we have to ask his classmates how smart this guy was in his lower school days because… Eish!”
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe
Stan Dogbe further argued that Assafuah’s approach reflected desperation to gain political relevance rather than substance. “...I have seen some of your hungry brothers trying hard to ‘catch the eye.’ Tell them I said, that’s not how to be relevant; or help their candidate,” he remarked.
He also questioned the maturity of the NPP MP, noting, “This one here will also demand to be called ‘Honourable’! Even if you are not street smart, it doesn’t take that much brain work to avoid embarrassing yourself, or?”
Commitment to Fiscal Prudence
Touching on government policy regarding presidential travel, Stan Dogbe stressed that the Mahama administration remains committed to ensuring cost-effectiveness in such arrangements.
He explained that when it is necessary that the president uses chartered flights, they will procure it at an affordable rate to the state.
“If the president’s trip requires a privately chartered aircraft and not his brother’s Dzata, which has saved the state huge sums of money, be sure that we will go for that, but not at an exorbitant cost to state”.
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe
The Deputy Chief of Staff also urged the Old Tafo MP and his party members to refrain from dragging former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo into their campaign discourse.
Stan Dogbe’s sharp words come in response to what government insiders describe as a calculated attempt by the opposition to frame President Mahama’s foreign travels as wasteful.
However, Sunday’s events, including the president’s public appearance in Accra before departing on a commercial flight, appeared to contradict Old Tafo MP’s claims. The clash highlights a broader political trend where travel arrangements of Ghanaian presidents are often subjected to intense partisan scrutiny.
Under the previous Akufo-Addo administration, members of the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) frequently criticized the use of chartered jets, arguing that it imposed unnecessary costs on the public purse. Now, with Mahama back in office, the debate has shifted, with the opposition NPP MPs attempting to hold him to similar scrutiny.
The Deputy Chief of Staff’s rebuttal also reflects the Mahama administration’s strategy of directly addressing misinformation while drawing sharp contrasts with the opposition’s approach.
His comments, laced with sarcasm, suggest that government officials are prepared to challenge accusations that could undermine the president’s image of frugality. For now, the controversy underscores how even routine presidential travel can become a flashpoint in Ghana’s highly polarized political environment.
While the NPP MP’s cost breakdown painted a picture of extravagant spending, the Deputy Chief Staff insisted the reality is much different — a commercially booked trip aimed at saving taxpayer money.
With President Mahama expected to hold high-level engagements in Japan, his office has made it clear that efficiency and prudence remain guiding principles.
As Stan Dogbe framed it, the government will not shy away from chartering flights when the situation demands, but will always prioritize value for money.
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