The Minority in Parliament has accused President John Mahama of presiding over what it describes as a potential conflict of interest involving his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, and a high-value mining concession.
At a media briefing in Parliament, the Ranking Member on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee and Member of Parliament for Asante Mampong, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, alleged that the President’s use of his brother’s private jet for official state travel raises serious constitutional and ethical concerns.
He described the situation as a form of “state capture,” arguing that two developments- the use of the private jet and the reported attempt by companies linked to Ibrahim Mahama to acquire a major gold mine are interconnected.
“These are not separate stories. They are the same story… they present the most serious conflict of interest question to confront any Ghanaian presidency,” he said.
According to the Minority, the current arrangement allows the President to use the private jet at no direct cost for leasing, with the state covering only fuel and landing charges, while all other operational costs are borne by his brother.
The group claims that this constitutes a significant benefit, potentially breaching Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits public officials from placing themselves in situations where personal interests conflict with their official duties.
They further estimate that the waived cost of a single international trip citing a recent visit to South Korea could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“The provision of substantial travel benefits by such a person to the President… is precisely the relationship the Constitution prohibits,” the MP stated.
The Minority also raised concerns about an ongoing process involving the acquisition of what they describe as one of Ghana’s most commercially valuable gold mining assets, allegedly being pursued by companies linked to Ibrahim Mahama.
They argue that the overlap between the President’s official authority and his brother’s business interests creates what they termed “the anatomy of conflict of interest.”
Citing Article 257 of the Constitution, the group emphasized that mineral resources are held in trust by the President for the people of Ghana and must be managed transparently.
The Minority is demanding:
• Full disclosure of financial arrangements surrounding the President’s travel
• Disclosure of beneficial ownership of all companies involved in the mining bid
• Recusal of any officials with ties to bidding entities
• Immediate suspension of the award process pending parliamentary scrutiny
They also called for a full briefing by the Lands and Natural Resources Committee before any final decision is taken.
The group warned that any attempt to proceed with awarding the mining concession under the current circumstances would be met with strong parliamentary resistance and possible legal challenges.
“A credible process must not only be fair, but must be seen to be fair,” the MP said.
