The Government of Ghana has defended President John Dramani Mahama’s use of a private jet owned by his brother for official trips, describing the arrangement as temporary and aimed at saving public funds while a new presidential aircraft is being procured.

Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, explained that the decision was taken due to safety concerns surrounding the current presidential jet and the need for a practical travel alternative as the government works to acquire a new aircraft.

“Well, the presidential jet currently has safety issues. The Ghana Air Force itself has made it known to the government officially that because of the frequent breakdown of presidential jets and their unreliability, they would much prefer that government acquire a new presidential jet together with other equipment for the air force.”
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Procurement of New Presidential Aircraft

According to the spokesperson, the government responded to this recommendation by presenting an agreement to Parliament for the procurement of a third presidential jet alongside other aircraft for the air force.

He noted that Parliament approved the proposal and the procurement process has since begun as part of efforts to modernise the air assets of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Hon. Kwakye Ofosu explained that the acquisition programme includes several aircraft, adding that the first helicopter under the arrangement has already been delivered.

However, he indicated that the time required to complete the procurement process means the president must rely on alternative travel arrangements in the interim.

“There is a period between the approval of the agreement and the arrival of the aircraft when the president still needs to travel for official duties”.
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Using a Private Jet to Reduce Costs

The Presidential Spokesperson said President Mahama chose to use his brother’s aircraft rather than rent a chartered plane at high cost to the state.

According to him, the aircraft belongs to a well-known businessman who established his enterprise long before the president returned to power. He added that the president had used the aircraft for travel even while he was in opposition.

“The president simply thought that rather than spend the taxpayers’ money renting aircraft, he had a brother who has an aircraft that he had been using even when he was in opposition”.
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu

He emphasised that the government does not pay rental fees for the aircraft. Instead, the state only covers operational costs such as fuel and landing charges that arise during international travel. “The President does not rent that aircraft. He uses it for free,” he said.

Hon. Kwakye Ofosu indicated that renting private aircraft for presidential travel can be extremely expensive, especially when the president undertakes multi-country visits lasting several days.

He recalled that chartering aircraft can cost about eighteen thousand dollars per hour, which can significantly increase travel expenses when the President travels to multiple destinations within a single tour.

“If the president rents an aircraft, he would have to pay for the rental like President Akufo-Addo was doing when, at some point, he was paying eighteen thousand dollars an hour.”
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu

He explained that presidential travel schedules often involve several stops across different countries, meaning charter costs could rise sharply if rented aircraft were used.

“If the president has to use such an aircraft for four or five days while making several stops, you can imagine the cost involved,” he said. According to him, using the privately owned jet therefore saves the country considerable sums of money.

Safety Certification by the Air Force

Addressing concerns about the safety of the aircraft, the spokesperson said all aircraft used by the President must undergo technical checks by the Ghana Air Force before being approved for official travel.

He explained that the Communications Squadron of the Ghana Air Force is responsible for verifying that any aircraft transporting the President is safe and operationally suitable.

He added that the aircraft is maintained by its owner, who retains the services of the pilots and technical crew responsible for operating it. As a result, the government does not bear the cost of maintaining the aircraft or paying the personnel who operate it.

The spokesperson also clarified that the President has not abandoned the use of commercial airlines for official travel. According to him, the decision to travel by commercial aircraft depends largely on the destination, logistical requirements, and availability of other suitable options.

“The President has no difficulty using commercial aircraft,” he said, noting that President Mahama has used commercial flights on several occasions in the past. He explained that if neither the presidential jet nor the privately owned aircraft is available, commercial travel remains a viable option.

Hon. Kwakye Ofosu also noted that foreign governments sometimes provide aircraft for visiting heads of state attending international events. He cited a recent example in which a foreign leader made an aircraft available to the president for travel to Dubai to attend an international conference.

Temporary Measure Pending Permanent Solution

Hon. Kwakye Ofosu stressed that the current arrangement is temporary and will remain in place only until the procurement of the new presidential aircraft is completed.

According to him, the government’s objective is to ensure that the President can fulfil his official duties while avoiding unnecessary financial burdens on the state.

He said the decision reflects a broader commitment by the administration to protect public resources and ensure fiscal responsibility in government operations.

Until the new aircraft arrive, the spokesperson said the government will continue to adopt travel arrangements that prioritise safety, practicality, and cost efficiency.