TheDeputyRankingMemberofParliament’sForeignAffairsCommittee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh,hascriticisedPresidentJohn Dramani Mahama’suseofaprivatejetownedbyhisbrother,Ibrahim Mahama,forofficialtravel,warningthatthearrangementcouldcreateconflictsofinterestandhiddencostsforthestate.
SpeakingonEyewitnessNews onThursday,March12,2026,NanaAsafo-Adjeiarguedthatthepracticeriskscreatingwhathedescribedasa “falsesenseoffree,”questioningclaimsthatthePresident’suseoftheaircraftcomesatnocosttothenation.
HisremarkscomeaftertheMinisterofStateinchargeofGovernmentCommunications,Felix Kwakye Ofosu,clarifiedthatthegovernmentdoesnotpaymaintenanceorservicingcostsforthejet.
MrKwakyeOfosuexplainedthatresponsibilityformaintainingtheaircraft,includingpaymentofthepilotandothercrewmembers,restssolelywithitsowner,whilethestateonlycoversoperationalexpensessuchasfuelandlandingchargeswhenthePresidentusesthejetforofficialtravel.
However,NanaAsafo-Adjeiquestionedtheclaimthatthearrangementimposesnofinancialburdenonthestate.
“YousaidPresidentMahamaistravelingwithhisbrother’sjet,whichisatnocosttothenation?Haveyoueverheardanythinglikefreelunchbefore?”heasked.
“Youtellyourministersnottoreceivegiftsinanyformorshapefromanybody.Yetyouaretakingajetfromyourbrother.Whatthenisthebasisfortellingyourappointeesnottoreceivegifts?”
Hefurtherarguedthatacceptingsuchanarrangementcouldcreateexpectationsoffavoursinreturn.
“Becausewhenacontractortodaygivesyouagift,tomorrowhetakesitfromsomewhereelse.WhenIbrahimMahama,whoisabusinessman,giveshisjetforhisbrothertotravel,tomorrow,hewillbegivenacontract.Hewillbegivenconcessions,awholeBlackVoltacouldbegiventohim,”hesaid.
“Thisisthepricewearepayingasacountry.Ifyouaretellingmetodaythatitisforfree,youaretellingyourselfalie.Itcanneverbeforfree,”NanaAsafo-Adjeiadded.
Citinewsroom
