Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has denied allegations that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo used private jets for domestic travel during his tenure.
Nitiwul’s comments were made in response to claims by Majority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza, who had accused Akufo-Addo of renting private jets for his travels.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on January 22, 2025, regarding President John Dramani Mahama’s use of his brother’s private jet, Nitiwul clarified that while Akufo-Addo did occasionally use private jets for international trips outside West Africa, such instances were rare, with Emirates being one example.
“I’m not here to do propaganda. I want to emphasize that former President Akufo-Addo has traveled on numerous occasions with Emirates. On some of those trips, he was accompanied by Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, former Minister for Roads and Highways—this can be verified.
“It’s on record that former President Akufo-Addo has flown with British Airways and Qatar Airways to the UK on numerous occasions. I’m sharing this information with Parliament for the record, so it enters the Hansard: former President Akufo-Addo has traveled by commercial flights several times, not just once.
“Former President Akufo-Addo never rented a private jet for domestic travel. While he did use private jets for international trips beyond West Africa, he did not use them for domestic travel within Ghana.”
Nitiwul also dismissed claims that Akufo-Addo did not use the official presidential aircraft.
“Former President Akufo-Addo has been using it for the last 8 months ever since it was returned from France.”
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Acting Spokesperson to President John Dramani Mahama, defended the President’s use of a private jet owned by his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for official trips to Senegal and The Gambia.
Responding to public criticism, Kwakye Ofosu clarified that the private jet has been available to President Mahama even before the 2024 general elections.
He emphasized that this arrangement incurs no cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer, as the jet was made available for the trips without charge.Ghanaian culture-inspired products
Kwakye Ofosu also revealed that the official presidential aircraft is currently under review by the Communications Squadron, the Air Force unit responsible for its operation, hence the private jet use.
