Government Breaks Silence on Mahama’s $56M Private Jet Trip to South Korea

Felix Kwakye Ofosu

The government has formally defended President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to travel to South Korea aboard a private jet owned by his brother, explaining that the state only paid for fuel and landing fees while avoiding the high costs associated with chartering another aircraft.

According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the government acted on advice from the Ghana Air Force, which reported that the official presidential aircraft — a Dassault Falcon 900EX — had been experiencing frequent breakdowns and reliability issues.

The minister also noted that the state aircraft lacks the range required for long-haul flights such as the trip from Ghana to South Korea, meaning refuelling stops or the use of an alternative aircraft would have been necessary.

“The president does not rent that aircraft. Beyond fuelling it and paying certain charges such as landing rights, we do not pay for it,” Kwakye Ofosu said on Thursday.

He added that all operational costs for the jet including maintenance, servicing, pilot salaries and crew expenses are fully covered by the aircraft’s owner, businessman Ibrahim Mahama.

The aircraft used for the trip is a Bombardier Global 6500 valued at approximately $56 million and branded “Dzata.” The jet was first publicly seen at Kotoka International Airport on March 3, 2026, just days before the president departed for Seoul.

Despite the government’s explanation, the opposition has strongly criticised the arrangement. Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama argued in Parliament that the situation represents a conflict of interest because the aircraft owner is the president’s brother. He said the arrangement could breach the Code of Conduct for Government Appointees.

Two lawmakers from the New Patriotic Party have since filed a formal parliamentary question to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, demanding full disclosure of the costs and criteria used in selecting the aircraft for the president’s trip.

Civil society voices have also weighed in. Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI Africa pointed out what he described as a contradiction in government policy.

He noted that President Mahama had earlier signed a directive on March 5 restricting boards of state-owned enterprises from undertaking international travel using public funds.

“Mr. President, you cannot be asking your appointees not to travel without providing economic justification and then you jump on your brother’s plane,” Cudjoe wrote.

Meanwhile, Parliament has already approved an agreement for the procurement of a replacement presidential aircraft. Kwakye Ofosu said the process to acquire the new jet has begun but will take time, making the current arrangement necessary for the president’s official duties abroad.

During his four-day working visit to Seoul from March 10 to March 14, President Mahama held talks with Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House. Their discussions focused on maritime security, climate action, digital innovation and agribusiness cooperation.

The president also commissioned a new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessel for Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure.