Kofi Bentil, lawyer and Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, weighed in on the “JM’s Jet” controversy during an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile on March 14, 2026, arguing that while presidential jet charters are justifiable, they need not come at a premium price.
His remarks were directed specifically at the use of a jet belonging to Ibrahim Mahama, the President’s brother — an arrangement he described as “very wrong.” Beyond the ethical red flags, Bentil raised concerns about conflicts of interest, the risk of surveillance equipment onboard, and the broader damage to public perception, regardless of any cost savings involved.
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His preferred solution is straightforward: charter a suitable, independent aircraft. This, he contended, would preserve the dignity and security the office demands without projecting the kind of extravagance ill-suited to a resource-constrained nation, and without leaning on family-owned assets.
He acknowledged that flying commercial is not a realistic option for a sitting president, but insisted that fiscally responsible chartering strikes the right balance — particularly given the well-documented issues with Ghana’s state-owned presidential jet.
Credit: JoyNews