Mahama’s use of brother’s private jet breaches his own code of conduct – Walewale MP

The Member of Parliament for Walewale, Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of breaching the Code of Conduct for government appointees by repeatedly using a private jet owned by his brother for official international travel.

Speaking to JoyNews in Parliament, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator said the arrangement raises serious ethical concerns and creates what he described as a “palpable conflict of interest.”

The President is currently on a trip to South Korea and reportedly travelled on a private jet owned by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, his brother.

Dr Tiah Mahama argued that the decision contradicts standards set out in the government’s own code of conduct for public officials.

“The potential conflict of using a private person’s jet for official trips is apparent,” he said. “And now you are not using just any private person — you are using the president’s brother. The palpable conflict of interest is there.”

According to the Walewale MP, public officials — especially the President — must avoid situations that could raise questions about ethical conduct or undue advantage.

“If a president must live beyond reproach, people should not see any semblance of unethical consideration in your behaviour,” he stated. “The fact that the president is using his brother’s aircraft puts him right at the centre of a conflict situation.”

The MP also referenced previous criticism from members of the current administration when they were in opposition regarding the use of aircraft for presidential travel.

He recalled that debates at the time centred on whether Ghana’s presidential jet was serviceable and whether the then-government should rely on commercial flights.

“Down the line, the president is found to be doing the very thing they spoke against,” he said.

Dr. Tiah Mahama insisted that alternative options existed for the President’s travel arrangements.

“There is no reason whatsoever. Even if there was a need for him to travel, he could have used a commercial flight, even business class, to ensure comfort,” he added.

The MP is therefore calling for an immediate end to the practice, arguing that it undermines public confidence and contradicts the ethical standards expected of government officials.

MyJoyOnline