A flurry of speculation recently surfaced regarding international travel to Japan by President John Dramani Mahama.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, alleged that the president used a private jet—registration M-BAEP—at a staggering cost of about $690,000 for the official trip.
However, multiple reliable sources swiftly confirmed that these claims are false.
The MP had shared flight details of a private jet allegedly linked to the trip of the President, implying luxury spending.
He alleged that a private jet, M-BAEP, left Accra on the morning of Sunday, August 17, 2025, around 7 a.m., and speculated that it may have been used for President Mahama’s official visit to Japan and Singapore. He estimated the total cost of the jet’s travel could amount to $690,000, triggering widespread debate online.
He further challenged the presidency, arguing that although the government insists President Mahama flew on Emirates, he doubts the entire presidential delegation used the commercial flight.
He stated that “I am suggesting to you that I do not think that the President and his delegation, all of them, went with the Emirates flight that they are talking about.”
However, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, strongly denounced the claim as baseless propaganda, reinforcing that the president indeed flew commercially
“President Mahama has not travelled by private jet. Indeed, President Mahama travelled to Japan via Emirates, and it is something that you can check,” he said, labelling the OldTafo MP’s claims as a “shambolic effort at propaganda.”
However, reports by Citinewsonline show that President Mahama departed Accra on Sunday afternoon after attending a thanksgiving service for the late Defense Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.
He transited through Dubai aboard Emirates flight EK318 and arrived in Tokyo at 5:43 p.m. local time, which is nine hours ahead of Ghana.
Flight details can be verified here: FlightAware – Emirates Flight UAE318
Mahama is currently in Japan for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX), where he is scheduled to deliver a plenary address on promoting trade and investment.
He will also headline the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum, showcasing Ghana’s economic prospects under the Resetting Ghana agenda.
Mahama will hold meetings with top Japanese leaders, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as well as officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). Discussions will centre on infrastructure, trade, and technical cooperation.
After concluding his engagements in Japan, President Mahama will continue to Singapore for a three-day state visit.
There, he will meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and take part in the Africa-Singapore Business Forum.
He is also expected to address an investment forum to highlight Ghana’s reforms and encourage Singaporean investment.
