President John Dramani Mahama has resumed the use of Ghana’s official presidential jet, arriving in Nairobi, Kenya, for a high-level African Union (AU) meeting on institutional reforms.
This marks a departure from his recent practice of utilizing a private jet owned by his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for official travels.
The President’s use of his brother’s private jet had previously sparked discussions regarding cost implications and potential conflicts of interest.
Presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu clarified that this arrangement incurred no expense to the Ghanaian taxpayer and was necessitated by an ongoing review of the official presidential aircraft by the Communications Squadron of the Ghana Air Force.
The decision to revert to the official presidential jet comes amid public discourse and parliamentary debates concerning the appropriateness of the President’s travel arrangements. Members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament had urged President Mahama to utilize the state-owned aircraft, emphasizing the importance of adhering to established protocols.
This development may address concerns regarding the President’s travel choices, as he aligns with public expectations by utilizing the official presidential jet for international engagements.