VIDEO: President Mahama in Kenya for AU meeting

President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday arrived in Nairobi, Kenya aboard Ghana’s presidential jet, the Dassault Falcon 900EX-Easy, to participate in a High-Level Retreat on African Union (AU) Institutional Reforms.

The retreat, scheduled for January 26-27, 2025, in Nairobi, will see African leaders discuss the progress and future of AU reforms.

The event, hosted at the invitation of Kenya’s President William Ruto, will focus on enhancing the efficiency, accountability, and sustainability of the AU as the organisation seeks to better address the continent’s challenges.

President Mahama uses Presidential Jet

This marks President Mahama’s first use of the presidential jet for an international trip since his swearing-in on January 7, 2025. 

According to public data from flight tracking platform Flightradar24 (below), the jet departed from Accra on January 25, made a stop in Luanda, Angola, and landed in Nairobi later Saturday evening.

The data also shows that the jet was used for a domestic trip on January 23, flying from Accra to Takoradi and back.

The trip comes just days after the Presidency defended President Mahama’s earlier use of his brother Ibrahim Mahama’s private jet for an official visit to Senegal and The Gambia.

The Acting spokesperson for the Presidency, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, explained that the temporary use of the private jet was necessitated by an ongoing review of the Communications Squadron, the Air Force unit responsible for managing the presidential fleet.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu assured the public that the private jet arrangement had incurred no cost to the taxpayer.

“The most critical point is that this alternative arrangement has not in any way, shape, or form cost the Ghanaian taxpayer a dime,” he stated. “President Mahama is mindful of the precarious economic situation and is committed to utilising public funds prudently.”

He added that the private jet, owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, was readily available and used only because of its accessibility. Mr Kwakye Ofosu also noted that the president would return to using the official jet once the Air Force’s review was complete.

Watch the video below;

AU reforms on the agenda

The retreat will provide a platform for Kenyan President William Ruto, designated the African Union Champion for Institutional Reform in February 2024, to update fellow leaders on the progress made in implementing AU reforms. President Ruto will also present proposals for the next phase of reforms for consideration.