United Progressive Party (UPP) leader Akwasi Addai Odike has thrown his weight behind President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to use his brother’s private jet for official travel, insisting there is nothing wrong with the arrangement.
Speaking on the Angel Morning Show with host Saddick Adams on March 16, 2026, Odike urged the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to drop the issue, dismissing their criticism as little more than partisan grandstanding.
The controversy centres on a brand-new Bombardier Global 6500 jet — valued at between $50 million and $70 million and branded “Dzata” — belonging to Ibrahim Mahama, a prominent businessman and the President’s brother.
Purchased in 2024, the aircraft was delivered to Accra in February 2026, with videos of its arrival circulating widely online around March 3. President Mahama has since used the jet for several international engagements, including a high-profile trip to South Korea where he attended a ship-renaming ceremony at Hyundai Heavy Industries and held discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
The NPP has been vocal in its opposition, with Walewale MP Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama among those alleging the arrangement breaches the Code of Conduct for public officials, raising concerns over conflicts of interest and the perception of favouritism. Critics have also questioned why the presidential or state aircraft fleet is not being utilised.
Odike is, however, not alone in his defence of the President. Financial analyst Joe Jackson of Dalex Finance, along with Solomon Owusu and Michael Kalley-Dotse, have similarly found no fault with the arrangement. Their collective position is that no law has been explicitly violated, since the use of a family member’s private asset for official purposes does not constitute a criminal act where no public funds are misused or improperly directed.
Supporters of the President have also pointed to the reliability of the private jet compared to state aircraft, citing concerns over maintenance delays and allegations of sabotage linked to past administrations as reasons why a dependable private alternative may be the more practical choice.
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Adding a philanthropic dimension to the story, Ibrahim Mahama has converted his older Bombardier 604 jet into a free emergency air ambulance for Ghanaians — a gesture many have praised as an act of generosity that reflects positively on the family.
Meanwhile, critics of the NPP’s stance have not held back from pointing to the opposition’s own record of expensive expenditures while in government, framing their current outcry as selective outrage.
Public opinion remains divided. While some Ghanaians view the use of the jet as a reasonable and even commendable act of family support, others see it as a symbol of elite privilege at a time when the country is still navigating economic recovery and pressing governance challenges.
Credit: Angel FM, Accra