The Communications Director of the United Party, Solomon Owusu, has defended President John Dramani Mahama over criticisms regarding his use of a private jet belonging to his brother for official travels.

His comments follow criticisms from members of the NPP over Mahama’s decision to use the private aircraft instead of the presidential jet.

President Mahama’s use of brother’s private jet sparks public debate

According to Owusu, while speaking on Onua TV on March 14, 2026, the NPP has no moral authority to criticise the decision, given their actions when they were in government.

“The NPP has no moral right to speak because anytime they do, people get angry. I would have been the first person to criticise President Mahama if the presidential jet was available and he wasn't using it,” he said.

He explained that the criticisms directed at former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the use of rented private jets during his tenure were because the presidential aircraft was available at the time.

Owusu argued that the jet at the time was in good condition, which saw the Liberian president renting it for his travels.

“The reason some of us criticised Akufo-Addo when he was renting a private jet was that at the time, the Falcon was available. Even the Liberian president rented it for his travels, and so if the Falcon is available and you proceed to rent, then we have every right to criticise you,” he stated.

Owusu noted that the current situation is different because the presidential jet, commonly referred to as the Falcon, is currently unavailable.

“What we are discussing today is not as if the Falcon is available and the president has decided not to use it. The Falcon is unavailable, and so we have to separate the issues for people to know the available options,” he explained.

He also raised concerns about the potential security implications if the president were to use commercial flights for official travel.

“When Mahama picks a commercial flight, what are the security implications?” he questioned.

Owusu further argued that the NPP’s defeat in the elections was largely due to its own actions rather than propaganda from political opponents.

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“One of the things that caused the NPP’s loss was not propaganda but their actions, like the National Cathedral construction, among other things,” he added, referencing the controversial National Cathedral of Ghana project.

The NPP has no moral right to criticize John Mahama for using his brother’s private jet. The party once rented a jet even when the presidential jet was available, but in this case the presidential jet is unavailable - Solomon Owusu#OnuaTV #KaWaSemYie pic.twitter.com/MsDRpwWunH

— #OnuaTV (@OnuaTV) March 14, 2026