Claim
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, claimed that President John Dramani Mahama’s recent trip to Japan involved the use of a private jet.
In a Facebook post shared on August 18, 2025, after the announcement of President Mahama’s departure for a two-nation official visit to Japan and Singapore, he alleged that a private jet had been hired for $15,000 per hour.
“This private jet, M-BAEP, left Accra this morning around 7 a.m. It is estimated to cost $15,000 per hour to rent this flight. A simple calculation shows that the 7-hour journey already covered amounts to $105,000. If the flight proceeds to Japan, which is likely to take about 12 hours, that would be another $180,000,” he wrote.
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He added, “If it then continues to Singapore, approximately 7 hours away, that would add another $105,000. Finally, if the jet flies directly to Germany and then back to Accra, a total of about 20 hours return trip, that would add another $300,000. Altogether, the cost comes to an incredible $690,000 without including waiting times and/or stopovers.”
Although Assafuah did not initially state that his post referred to President Mahama, his subsequent interviews confirmed that he was making the allegation in relation to the president’s trip to Japan and Singapore.
In an interview with JoyNews on August 18, 2025, Assafuah argued that even though the government explained that President Mahama travelled on a commercial flight, this did not rule out the possibility of a private jet being used at some point during the trip.
He suggested that President Mahama may have boarded a commercial flight from Kotoka International Airport only to connect to a private jet elsewhere.
“I’m not interested in the president; I’m interested in the president and the delegation. Because in their own statement, they mentioned that the president was travelling with a delegation.
“Why are you singling out the president? Is it the case that the jet is meeting the president, or, if you like, some other people, somewhere? That is why the president, probably, if what they are alleging is the case, used a commercial airline which we don’t even know. If what they are saying is true, the president did not use the aircraft that I’m talking about, it does not mean that the president will not use it along his trip,” he alleged.
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What the government has said about the claims
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, dismissed the claims as false propaganda.
According to him, Assafuah’s allegation that President Mahama travelled abroad on an expensive private jet was “a mediocre attempt at propaganda.”
In an interview with Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, August 18, 2025, Kwakye Ofosu insisted the claims lacked credibility:
“He does not have any facts. He is just wasting everybody’s time with claims that are false… President Mahama has not travelled by private jet.
“President Mahama travelled to Japan via Emirates, and it is something that you can check. It is not a secret,” Kwakye Ofosu said.
Facts
Movement of the private jet – M-BAEP
GhanaWeb checks indicate that the private jet referenced by Vincent Assafuah, the M-BAEP, did not travel anywhere near Japan or Singapore.
Flight data from FlightAware, as of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, showed that the private jet, a Canadair Challenger CL60, landed in Berlin, Germany, more than a day earlier.
The jet departed Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 7:13 a.m. and arrived in Berlin the same day at 4:12 p.m.
Use of an Emirates commercial flight
GhanaWeb’s check on FlightAware affirms the arrival of the flight to Japan. Details on FlightAware show that EK 318 arrived in Japan exactly 4 hours and 17 minutes ago as at 1:00 p.m.
The flight moved from the Dubai International Airport in Dubai to the Narita International Airport in Japan.
This indicates that President Mahama travelled via Dubai, not directly to Japan.
A review of Emirates flights departing Kotoka International Airport on Sunday, August 17, also showed that the only flight was an Emirates 787, which left Accra at 12:47 p.m. for Abidjan before continuing to Dubai.
More details of the Emirates 787 show that it has been plying the Accra, Abidjan and Dubai route.
When President Mahama left Ghana
Contrary to Assafuah’s claim that President Mahama left around 7:00 a.m., the president was in Accra at the Thanksgiving Service for the late Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, at Christ the King Catholic Church from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the same day.
The event was covered and streamed live by several media outlets, including GhanaWeb.
Therefore, President Mahama could not have been on the private jet, which left Accra at 7:13 a.m.
Analysis
Vincent Assafuah claimed President Mahama left Accra at 7:00 a.m., but evidence shows he was at a public event in Accra until midday.
The private jet, M-BAEP, left at 7:13 a.m. for Berlin, confirming Mahama was not aboard.
Flight records confirm President Mahama flew to Japan on Emirates flight EK 318 via Dubai, not on a private jet.
Verdict
The claim by NPP MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah that President Mahama travelled to Japan on a private jet is false.
BAI/MA
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