Mahama does not rent Dzata jet; he only fuels it – Kwakye Ofosu

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Makay
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President John Mahama

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, has explained that President John Mahama does not rent the Dzata jet owned by his brother Ibrahim Mahama.

According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, President Mahama only pays for fuel when he uses the Dzata jet for official travel.

He detailed that Dzata jet remains the property of Ibrahim Mahama, with Ghana only having to pay operational expenses such as fuel and landing charges when the president uses it for trips.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, March 12,  Kwakye Ofosu explained, “The President does not rent the aircraft; he only fuels it. The aircraft belongs to somebody, so the owner retains the services of the pilot and other personnel who work on it”.

“When the President rents an aircraft, apart from paying the rent, he would also have to cover fuel and all the costs associated with maintaining that aircraft during the time he is using it. By not doing so, the President is saving public funds,” he explained.

Also, in a separate interview, Felix Ofosu Kwakye has said Ghana’s presidential jet is deemed unreliable by the Ghana Air Force.

According to Felix Ofosu Kwakye, the military has advised President Mahama against the use of Ghana’s presidential jet for presidential travel due to security concerns and frequent technical faults.

He further defended President John Dramani Mahama’s use of his brother’s private jet.

Felix Ofosu Kwakye detailed that Ghana has a deficit in terms of its ability to ferry the president, adding that Mahama prefers to use his brother’s aircraft, which he was using pending the arrival of the arrangement the state has made, rather than going to take taxpayers’ money to rent an aircraft.

He further quizzed how saving the country money becomes a problem for anybody.

Felix Ofosu Kwakye further disclosed that the Air Force has raised security concerns over the frequent breakdown of the Ghana Presidential jet.

Speaking on Top Story on Joy FM on Thursday, March 12, Felix Ofosu Kwakye explained, “The state of Ghana has a deficit in terms of its ability to ferry the president,” Mr Kwakye said, noting that “Before he became president, his brother had an aircraft that he was using. It is a fact well known to everybody.”

“The president says that rather than going to take taxpayers’ money to rent an aircraft, let me continue using that aircraft that I was using pending the arrival of the arrangement the state has made,” he stated.

“So I ask the question: how does saving the country money become a problem for anybody?” he asked.

He further added, “If it were the case that the state had an aircraft that was functioning and the president disregarded that and hopped into his brother’s aircraft and paid for it, in other words, rented it at a cost to the state, then there would be a legitimate basis to raise complaints of conflict of interest and profiteering by his brother”.

“The Air Force itself has said that because of security concerns and the frequent breakdown, they won’t recommend it be used for the president,” he said.

“They have indicated that its operations have proved unreliable and that it costs too much to maintain because the slightest movement requires repairs. Until then, the president says, ‘Let me use this arrangement that does not impose significant cost on the state pending the arrival of the aircraft,’” he explained.

“So it is not a permanent arrangement in any event. It is only because the state is constrained by the non-availability of a reliable aircraft.”

However, President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to tell Ghanaians why he continues to use his brother’s private jet for official state trips.

According to him, Mahama, using his brother’s private jet, sends conflicting signals about the government’s stance on public sector discipline.

Franklin Cudjoe explained that President Mahama must provide justification if he chooses to travel on a private jet, especially after his directives asking government appointees to limit travel unless there is a clear economic justification.

In a social media post on March 12, 2026, Franklin Cudjoe wrote, “Mr President, with due respect,  you cannot be asking your appointees not to travel without providing economic justification, and then you jump on your brother’s plane without providing us reasons why you think it is the only safe, available and cheaper airline.

You recently flew commercial, and your communications team happily shared videos. We all applauded.

Seriously, this sends conflicting signals about your own fidelity to the public code of conduct for public office. This is the second time I have heard about using Mr Ibrahim Mahama’s plane, and you may be earning back your own “dead goat” syndrome, which was last rejected by many. Please stop”.

His comments follow President Mahama, who is currently on a state visit to South Korea and was again seen using Ibrahim Mahama’s private jet, which bears the inscription “Dzata”.

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