By Godwill Arthur-Mensah/Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, March 26, GNA – The Minority Caucus in Parliament is considering a formal and joint petition to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over what it described as “serious conflict-of-interest breaches involving President John Dramani Mahama.”
The Minority raised two issues-the President’s repeated use of his brother Ibrahim Mahama’s private jet for official travels, and the operationalisation of the Damang Gold Mine by Engineers & Planners Limited (E&P), a company also owned by Ibrahim Mahama.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra on Thursday, Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the Ranking Member on Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Mampong, said the Caucus believed both matters constituted breaches of Article 287(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
That provision, he said, prohibits public officials from engaging in conflicts of interest.
Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong said: “The Minority is demanding that the President immediately cease the use of his brother’s private jet for official travel, publish details of all trips undertaken on the aircraft, including dates, destinations, total costs borne by the State, and the estimated market value of services provided free of charge since his inauguration on January 7, 2025.”
The Caucus noted that President Mahama has repeatedly used private aircraft owned by his brother Ibrahim Mahama, branded under the “Dzata” fleet of Engineers & Planners Limited.
It argued that the Presidency has consistently defended the arrangement as a temporary cost-saving measure while the State’s official presidential aircraft undergoes technical review.
However, Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) argued that the arrangement amounted to a gift or benefit that compromises the President’s impartiality and independence.
They cited the most recent confirmed instance occurred in March 2026, when President Mahama travelled to Seoul, South Korea, aboard a Bombardier Global 6500 registered N969EP, delivered just weeks earlier and valued at between $56 million and $70 million.
In addition, the Minority indicated that Engineers & Planners Limited, a firm owned by the President’s brother, has been awarded operational control of the Damang Gold Mine, one of Ghana’s most strategic mineral assets.
The Minority contended that the award of such a concession to the President’s brother raises profound questions of state capture, where public resources are diverted to benefit a single family.
The MPs on the Minority Side argued that the two issues – the free use of the jet and the mining concession – are not separate stories but part of a pattern of conflict of interest.
Article 287(1) of the 1992 Constitution requires public officials to avoid conflicts between personal interests and public duties; therefore, the Minority believed the President’s actions violated this principle by creating a situation where his family’s private business interests overlap with state functions.
They further argued that the arrangement contravened the Code of Conduct instituted by the President himself, undermining the credibility of governance.
The case raises questions about transparency and accountability at the highest levels of government. Critics warn that continued reliance on family-owned assets for state functions erodes confidence in democratic institutions.
The Minority also expressed conviction that the Damang Mines deal could have long-term implications for Ghana’s mining sector, particularly regarding fair competition and resource allocation.
Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, Slovakia, and the United States have established strict frameworks to prevent conflicts of interest in public office.
The Minority argued that Ghana must align with these best practices to safeguard fiscal discipline and democratic governance.
Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong stated: “What we find is not ambiguity. It is a blueprint for capture – written in two hands but serving one family.
“Ghana is watching the Damang Gold Mine being arranged for the President’s brother, while that same brother’s private jet carries the President on official State visits free of charge.”
The Minority Caucus is preparing a formal petition to CHRAJ, which will request a full investigation into the President’s use of his brother’s private jet, and a review of the Damang Mines concession awarded to Engineers & Planners Limited.
The unfolding controversy represents one of the most serious conflict-of-interest questions to confront a Ghanaian presidency since independence.
As the Minority moves toward a CHRAJ petition, the case is likely to test the strength of Ghana’s constitutional safeguards and the resilience of its democratic institutions.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah\