Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, the former Defence Minister, is questioning why President John Dramani Mahama travels with private and commercial flights on international duties.
Nitiwul says the presidential flight is in good shape and can be used by the President instead of using other flights for his travels.
The former Minister made the remarks on the floor of Parliament Wednesday, January 22, 2025, when the House was informed that President Mahama had travelled to the United Arab Emirates.
Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) questioned the mode of transport the President was using for the trip when the Minister-designate for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, clarified that Mr. Mahama had used a commercial flight for his journey.
In reaction, Nitiwul criticised the situation, saying it is inappropriate for the President to be using commercial and private jet when the presidential jet is in good shape.
“Anytime the President jet was not available, the communication squadron jet was not available for whatever reasons the [former] President always rented it [private jet] and used it. The difference today is that the current jet is serviceable. It can move. It is working. It is wrong for the President of the Republic to be going on commercial jets when the jet that Ghana use our money to pay for and buy is available and it’s working,” he said.
The brouhaha over the President’s mode of traveling comes on the back of his recent usage of his brother’s private jet which brought a lot of controversies.
In response, Mr. Agbodza questioned why the former President was using luxury private jet under the guise of supposed servicing and ditching the presidential jet.
“So how come you didn’t put the former president, on the same flight? Immediately you left office, the jet has become serviceable. Very, very rich. The jet only became serviceable for a president when you left office? isn’t that telling you want him to take that jet? How? How come the [former] President never took that jet?
Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on his part, indicated that the President has never rented a private jet since he was sworn in.
