Rev John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, has called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to resign.
According to Rev John Ntim Fordjour, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa must resign as minister following President John Mahama’s chartering a private jet for his travels to Japan and Singapore.
The Assin South MP also called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to apologise to Ghanaians and former President Akufo-Addo for their petty politics with his presidential travels.
In a post shared on X on August 18, 2025, Rev Ntim Fordjour stated, “Mr Principle @S_OkudzetoAblak, Ghana is expecting your resignation. NDC must apologize to Ghanaians and Prez Akufo-Addo for doing petty politics with presidential travels”.
He further called on the Mahama government to submit a proposal for the acquisition of new Presidential Jet.
Ntim Fordjour added, “ Govt must be bold to submit proposal for the acquisition of new Presidential Jet for the President’s safety”.
The MP’s demand for Ablakwa’s resignation comes after he stated on Adom FM’s Burning Issues in July 2022 that he would resign if a future NDC president were to hire jets at such high costs
Ablakwa stated, “I don’t have anything against the president, but it’s about protecting the public purse, and I don’t expect a future NDC president to hire jets at such high costs. Some of us would resign; I wouldn’t want to be part of such a government”.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama left the country on Sunday, August 17, for a two-nation official visit to Japan and Singapore.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, in a statement, revealed that Mahama will participate in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX) and also speak at the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum.
He also added that the president will later continue to Singapore for a three-day state visit.
John Mahama will meet Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and also participate in the Africa-Singapore Business Forum and deliver an address at an investment forum.
However, Stan Dogbe, the deputy chief of in a Facebook post, revealed President Mahama’s travel to Japan on board a commercial airline from Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.
He added, “Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, I have seen some of your hungry brothers, trying hard to “catch the eye”.
Tell them I said, that’s not how to be relevant, or help their candidate.
President John Dramani Mahama is on his way to Japan on board a commercial airline from Accra’s Kotoka International Airport. There are right-thinking Ghanaians on board with him”.
Stan Dogbe further added, “If the president’s trip requires a privately chartered aircraft and not his brother’s Dzata, which has saved the state huge sums of money, be sure that we will go for that, but not at an exorbitant cost to the state.
Tell them to let President Akufo-Addo enjoy his retirement and stop drawing him needllessly into their candidate’s comatose campaign”.
In addition, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has called on all political actors to stop playing politics with the procurement of presidential planes and helicopters.
According to the Asantehene, lives are at stake, and Ghana must ensure the safety and efficiency of the president and its personnel in the security service.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made this known when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace following last week’s tragic helicopter crash.
He described the incident as a national concern and further expressed deep sympathy to President John Mahama and the bereaved families.
The Asantehene stated, “Enough of the politicising of the purchase of presidential planes and helicopters. Human lives are at stake here. We must invest to safeguard their safety and efficiency”.
He further noted that most of the military aircraft currently in use are not in good condition.
He emphasised the need for investment in modern and reliable alternatives.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II further urged all political divides to come together to address Ghana’s aviation and security logistics challenges.
Ghana’s Falcon 900 EX Presidential Jet was purchased in 2009 and arrived in the country in 2010.
It replaced a 37-year-old Foker 27 aircraft, which was regarded as a flying coffin.
The Falcon 900 EX Presidential Jet has since been grounded at the Dassault Falcon Service facility in Le Bourget, France, due to massive wear and tear issues.
In 2021, the former Akufo-Addo government sought to purchase a new and bigger jet for the Presidency, but faced public backlash over accusations of extravagant travels by Akufo-Addo.
See the post below:
Mr Principle @S_OkudzetoAblak, Ghana is expecting your resignation. NDC must apologize to Ghanaians and Prez Akufo-Addo for doing petty politics with presidential travels. Govt must be bold to submit proposal for the acquisition of new Presidential Jet for the President’s safety. pic.twitter.com/oleluP6uX2
— John Ntim Fordjour MP (@NtimFordjour) August 18, 2025