Old Tafo Member of Parliament (MP), Vincent Ekow Assafuah, is demanding answers from the government regarding the cost and details of President John Dramani Mahama’s recent international trip, insisting it is within his right as a legislator to seek clarity on matters involving public funds.
Speaking in response to criticism following a controversial Facebook post, Assafuah defended his decision to question the mode of the President’s travel and the associated costs to the taxpayer.
“I have made a Facebook post that seeks answers from government. It is within my rights as an MP to seek answers with regards to how my President is travelling out of the country, the amount of money that it is costing the taxpayer, the people that he is going with — because they are going to be paid per diem. All this information should not be hidden from us,” he said on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday August 18.
The MP had earlier alleged that a private jet, M-BAEP, left Accra on the morning of Sunday, August 17, around 7 a.m., and speculated that it may have been used for President Mahama’s official visit to Japan and Singapore. He estimated the total cost of the jet’s travel could amount to $690,000, triggering widespread debate online.
Assafuah further challenged the presidency, arguing that although government insists President Mahama flew on Emirates, he doubts the entire presidential delegation used the commercial flight.
“I am suggesting to you that I do not think that the President and his delegation, all of them, went with the Emirates flight that they are talking about.”
His remarks come after the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, strongly dismissed the private jet claims as false and politically motivated.
“President Mahama has not travelled by private jet. Indeed, President Mahama travelled to Japan via Emirates, and it is something that you can check,” he said, labelling Assafuah’s claims as a “shambolic effort at propaganda.”
President Mahama is currently on a two-nation visit to Japan and Singapore, focused on strengthening bilateral ties and promoting investment opportunities in Ghana.
While the government maintains the President flew on a commercial airline and followed due process, Assafuah insists that full disclosure is needed on travel arrangements, delegation size, and expenditure.
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