Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has explained why President John Dramani Mahama flew to the World Governments Summit in Dubai and then to Zambia on an aircraft provided by the President of the UAE.
According to Ablakwa, the aircraft being used by President John Mahama is not privately chartered by the presidency but was provided by world leaders eager to host President Mahama because he is in high demand.
Ablakwa detailed that the arrangement reflects the honour, demand, and prestige President Mahama currently enjoys on the international stage.
He further explained that several world leaders are keen to have him attend events and meetings in their countries.
Speaking in Zambia, where President Mahama met with members of the Ghanaian community, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated, “If you have seen in recent times attempts to say that President Mahama is probably falling in love with private jets, this is a different kind of private jet arrangement. It is because of the honour, the high demand, and the very great prestige that President Mahama has brought to the office of the President of Ghana. He is so well sought after and in such high demand that world leaders are not taking no for an answer”.
“They are not looking at his calendar or his schedule. Whatever they have to do to lift him, airlift him to their countries, and send him wherever he has to be next, they are doing that. And so for the record, that is the reason why you saw a different kind of jet here,“ Ablakwa noted.
The Minister added, “Those of you who were at the Airport with us, that explains it. I heard some of you say we are not seeing any Ghana flag on the Jet. It was a special Jet from the ruler of the UAE. It was a similar arrangement with Qatar.
“So we must all be proud. President Mahama has restored honour and prestige to the high office of President, and Ghana has taken its rightful place in the community of nations,” he added.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama, speaking in Zambia on Friday, February, suggested that Ghana’s traditional fugu smock could soon gain global popularity.
President Mahama thanked, thanked Zambians for marketing Ghana’s fugu.
Mahama reflected on how social media amplified a moment in which a Zambian described the attire as a “blouse” during his recent visit to Zambia.
He stated, “Smock has become an integral part of our culture. The smock weavers in Ghana will be very happy because, through the power of social media, they have received branding and marketing they could never have imagined”.
“While people were commenting on my arrival, one person from the crowd asked, ‘What blouse is he wearing?’ and it triggered a whole social media firestorm”.
He added, “I thank Zambia for marketing our fugu for us. It might even become an export item in our bilateral trade. We will export some fugu and create a new fashion trend”.
Also, Wodemaya, a popular Ghanaian content creator and YouTuber, schooled some Zambians for describing President John Dramani Mahama’s outfit as a blouse.
The Ghanaian content creator and YouTuber expressed strong displeasure over comments made by some Zambians.
During Mahama’s visit to Zambia, he was spotted wearing a fugu, a traditional Ghanaian smock which some Zambians were describing as a blouse.
Wodemaya in a post on X stated, “Dear Zambians,
The outfit worn by our President is not a BLOUSE. It is a Ghanaian traditional attire known as FUGU, also called Batakari.
Our President is intentionally promoting the local garment industry both within and beyond our borders, unlike your President, whose suit is not African. It is unfortunate that many of you, despite having access to smartphones and the internet, still choose to remain ignorant”.
Watch the video below:
"World leaders are doing whatever they can to airlift him to their countries and send him wherever he has to be next." – Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto, explains why President Mahama flew to the World Governments Summit in Dubai and then to Zambia on an aircraft… pic.twitter.com/nSRlkVsn7x
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) February 5, 2026