Franklin Cudjoe questions transparency of President Mahama’s use of brother’s private jet  

The founder of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has raised concerns about the transparency of President John Dramani Mahama’s recent use of a private jet owned by his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for official trips to The Gambia and Senegal.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, 19 January 2025, Mr Cudjoe acknowledged the explanation provided by Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, that the trips incurred no cost to taxpayers due to the generosity of the President’s brother. However, he queried the legal and ethical implications of such an arrangement.  

“Can Hon. Kwakye Ofosu tell us if the cost of this visit was classified as a gift to the state and declared, given that the President’s brother is a private citizen?” Mr Cudjoe asked, emphasising the need for transparency in governance.  

Mr Cudjoe’s comments come amid growing public scrutiny of governance and accountability in Ghana, particularly with regard to financial declarations by public officials. He drew a comparison to the previous administration’s Finance Minister, who, despite claiming not to draw a salary, presided over a period that left Ghana grappling with a debt crisis and a junk-rated economy.  

The use of private resources for state functions often raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and adherence to governance regulations. Under Ghanaian law, public officials are required to declare any gifts or benefits received during their tenure to ensure accountability and avoid undue influence.  

Ministerial vetting

Mr Cudjoe also turned his attention to the ongoing vetting of ministerial nominees for critical portfolios, including Agriculture, Roads and Transport, and Education. He expressed hope that Parliament’s Appointments Committee would rigorously question nominees to evaluate their competence and readiness to serve.  

Highlighting the insights of IMANI fellow Mr Ato Coleman, Mr Cudjoe called for the introduction of more robust performance management systems for government appointees.  

“We need a more robust performance management system that transparently shows the objectives, outputs, and outcomes our ministers and teams are delivering, what the KPIs are, and how we track progress,” Mr Coleman stated, a sentiment Mr Cudjoe echoed in his post.  

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Why President Mahama used his brother's private jet on his trip to Senegal & Gambia