Ghana to Acquire Additional Presidential Aircraft by November – Callistus Mahama
Secretary to the President says new aircraft will strengthen Ghana’s state aviation capacity and reduce reliance on privately owned jets for presidential travel.
Callistus Mahama has revealed that Ghana is expected to acquire additional aircraft for presidential travel by November this year as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s state aviation capacity. The disclosure comes amid ongoing public debate over the use of a private aircraft belonging to the brother of John Dramani Mahama for official presidential trips.
In an opinion piece addressing the controversy, Callistus Mahama acknowledged that public concerns about possible perceptions of a conflict of interest are legitimate and deserve thoughtful engagement.
“It is a fair question. In a democratic society, citizens are not only entitled to ask such questions; they are duty-bound to do so,” he noted, stressing that public scrutiny is essential to maintaining trust in governance.
Mahama explained that decisions regarding presidential travel are influenced by a combination of security requirements, operational logistics and the current limitations of state aviation assets.
According to him, presidential travel involves complex arrangements that go far beyond ordinary flights. These include strict security protocols, diplomatic responsibilities and communication systems that allow the Head of State to continue performing executive duties even while outside the country.
Frim Pong
“Presidential travel is unlike any other form of travel. It carries with it layers of responsibility—security protocols, diplomatic engagements, communication systems and the requirement that the Head of State remains able to function as the executive authority of the republic even while thousands of kilometres away from Accra,” he wrote.
To address these challenges, the government has initiated plans to expand the presidential air transport fleet as part of a broader effort to retool the Ghana Armed Forces.
Callistus Mahama indicated that by November this year, Ghana is expected to have additional aircraft within the presidential fleet, including one dedicated specifically to the president’s travel.
He said the move will allow the country to rely more on state-owned aviation assets, reducing the need for temporary arrangements that have triggered the current public debate.
Mahama added that strengthening institutional capacity remains central to the government’s broader efforts to rebuild public trust and improve governance.
Read:
Frim Pong
Comments ()