Ghana's President Mahama sparks row for flying in brother's private jet
Critics say the practice violates the code of conduct for public officials and amounts to "conflict of interest", but the government argues that it "saves taxpayers money".
A row has broken out in Ghana over President John Mahama's foreign trips, using his brother's private jet.
Politicians from the opposition NPP party have demanded an investigation, with MP Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama saying the practice violates the code of conduct for public officials and amounts to "conflict of interest".
However, the government has defended Mahama's decision, ruling out any potential conflict of interest.
Ghana's Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, told one of the country’s major media outlets, Joy FM, that President Mahama's use of his brother's plane "saves taxpayers money" because the government only pays for fuel and landing charges.
The opposition are not convinced by this explanation.
Presidential jet
Ghana's presidential jet, a Falcon 900EX EASy, was acquired in 2009. It has undergone eight months of maintenance in Europe and was returned to Ghana in November last year.
It's not publicly known whether it is currently airworthy. But Minister Kwakye said "the presidential jet has broken down a number of times", raising safety and reliability issues in case the president uses it.
The latest controversy comes as President Mahama visits South Korea to boost bilateral ties.
He has also recently travelled to Ethiopia for an African Union summit, and Tanzania for the 20th anniversary of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.
President Mahama's brother, Ibrahim, whose private jet is at the centre of the row, is one of West Africa's top businesspeople, with his businesses spanning various sectors including mining, construction, and agriculture.
He recently bought a new private jet and donated his old one to be used as an air ambulance nationwide.