Resident Country Director of International Investments LLC, Ibrahim Adjei, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to discontinue the use of a private jet belonging to his brother for official travel, warning that the arrangement raises concerns about transparency and potential conflict of interest.
Adjei argued that even if the arrangement appears legitimate, it could create perceptions of a quid pro quo, which he believes the presidency must avoid.
According to him, the issue goes beyond cost considerations and instead touches on the need to maintain public trust and transparency in the conduct of state affairs.
“These things should be captured. We need the transparency, and beyond it being captured, we should avoid it. President Mahama should avoid using his brother’s vehicle. On legitimacy, I can say that there is some quid pro quo, something for something. Nothing is truly free in politics,” he said.
He therefore suggested that the government should instead allow the state to bear the cost of presidential travel by chartering an aircraft when necessary, rather than relying on a private jet owned by a close relative of the president.
“If the president’s security and travel should be above partisan considerations, then taxpayers should pay for him to charter a jet rather than using his brother’s, because the conflict of interest is too much. My criticism is about the transparency and what it creates in the minds of people,” he added.
His comments come amid growing public debate over the use of a private aircraft belonging to businessman Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of President Mahama, for some official presidential trips.
