Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has justified President John Mahama’s use of commercial flights for foreign trips.
According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Mahama has not complained about flying commercially.
He emphasised that the President’s choice of travel exhibited prudence and a commitment to safeguarding national resources.
Ablakwa further revealed that the President is at ease with the arrangement and did not see it as odd.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, Ablakwa explained, “President John Dramani Mahama has not complained that he’s worried about flying commercial. He will not be the first to do that. Most of our Presidents did that, particularly when presidential jets were not available,” he stated.
“Absolutely. If you look at what former President Akufo-Addo was spending on private charters an hour, and all the costs that come with it, it is nowhere near. This discussion should be situated in protecting the public purse,” he stressed.
Additionally, Ablakwa, speaking at the Government’s Accountability Series on September 15, 2025, responded to critics regarding President John Dramani Mahama’s use of commercial flights for his travels.
Ablakwa stated, “President Mahama has not complained about commercial travels. I have seen some people say, ‘oh, President Mahama spent 22 hours in Dubai’ and they blame me for that.
“I saw a colleague [journalist] of yours apologising to President Mahama, that it is because of me, and that if President Mahama had his own way, he would have chartered a luxury jet, but because I’m the foreign minister, he cannot do that,” he added.
The minister further urged the public to desist from spreading such misinformation.
“That is so unfair to President Mahama. That was just propaganda; it is not true. No president will be allowed to be stranded at an airport. Let us get serious and stop this childish propaganda”, he warned.
However, Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party, has said the now Foreign Affairs minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa’s dirty politics have cocooned President John Dramani Mahama into waiting in transit for 22 hours.
According to Salam Mustapha, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in opposition told Ghanaians the Presidential jet was in good condition.
He accused the NDC of dirty politics with Ghana’s president’s travels, which has today placed President John Mahama in a tight corner by waiting in transit for 22 hours.
He asserted that the NDC government must live by the standards they have set for former President Akufo-Addo.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in opposition, exposed then-President Akufo-Addo’s use of private jets.
He exposed former President Akufo-Addo’s $20,000-an-hour luxury jet travels, which he revealed as a wasteful expense.
The exposé pressured Akufo-Addo to revert to using Ghana’s presidential jet, saving millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.
Speaking on UTV, Salam Mustapha stated, “John Mahama is a beneficiary of the politics of insults; all the politics they did in this country, we have seen it. From Okudzeto Ablakwa…
Today, the president can board a plane and wait for transit for 22 hours because of the dirty politics we did in that country. It is because of the dirty politics Ablakwa did in the country, and he was supported, that is what has cocooned the president.
You see the president of the Republic of Ghana walking in the tunnel; it is a disgrace. You see the end of politics”.
He added, “They are telling lies; the Presidential jet is in pristine condition. I left the government about eight months ago. The time we were leaving the government, they told us that the presidential jet was in pristine condition. So far as we are concerned, the presidential jet is fit for purpose; there is nothing wrong with it.
The way they disturb former President Akufo-Addo, they should live by the standard”.
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.
Additionally, 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.
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”.