The Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has defended his claim that President John Dramani Mahama used a private jet for his official visit to Japan and Singapore.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on August 18, 2025, Assafuah indicated that even though the government has explained that President Mahama used a commercial flight, it does not mean that the private jet he mentioned could not have been used at some point during the trip.

He alleged that President Mahama might have boarded a commercial flight from the Kotoka International Airport to go and meet an awaiting private jet.

'A disgrace of an MP' - Deputy Chief of Staff slams NPP MP over Mahama private jet claims

“I'm not interested in the president; I’m interested in the president and the delegation. Because in their own statement, they made mention of the president 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 added.

Assafuah alleged on social media that a private jet, with registration number M-BAEP, was used by the president for his recent trip.

He went further to estimate the supposed costs of the flight, claiming it would run into several hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the route they will use.

Luxury Travel Claims: Government hits back at Vincent Assafuah's allegations

Per his calculations, a 7-hour flight from Accra would cost about $105,000, with an additional 12-hour leg to Japan costing $180,000. He further suggested that a stop in Singapore would add another $105,000, and a 20-hour return trip to Germany and Accra could add $300,000.

"This private jet, M-BAEP, left Accra this morning around 7 am. 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.

"If it then continues to Singapore, which is 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," Assafuah wrote.

The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has called out the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, for peddling falsehoods about Mahama's travel to Japan.

According to him, Assafuah's claim that President John Dramani Mahama travelled abroad on an expensive private jet is shambolic propaganda.

Kwakye Ofosu vehemently refuted the assertion made by the MP, saying Assafuah only dabbled in "a mediocre attempt at propaganda."

In an interview on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, August 18, Kwakye Ofosu insisted that the claims by the MP lacked substance.

"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," he said.

He insisted that "President Mahama travelled to Japan via Emirates, and it is something that you can check. It is not a secret."

BAI/VPO

Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWeb’s yet-to-air documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below: