Revealed: Mahama Flew To Japan On Commercial Airline, Not Private Jet

Citi News can confirm that President John Dramani Mahama travelled to Japan on a regular Emirates Airlines flight during his recent trip contrary to allegations by the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, who claimed the President had used an expensive private jet.

The MP alleged that a private jet with registration number M-BAEP departed Accra on the morning of Sunday, August 17, suggesting it may have carried President Mahama. He further estimated the supposed trip to have cost about $690,000.

However, Citi News checks indicate that President Mahama actually left Accra on Sunday afternoon, following a thanksgiving service held in honour of the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah. He flew on Emirates flight EK318, transiting through Dubai before arriving in Tokyo at 5:43 p.m. local time (nine hours ahead of Ghana).

The flight details are publicly available and can be verified via FlightAware Emirates Flight UAE318.

President Mahama is in Tokyo to take part in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX), where he is scheduled to deliver a speech during a plenary session on the theme “Economy Promoting Trade and Investment.”

Upon arrival, he was warmly received by officials of Ghana’s Embassy in Japan as well as representatives of the host government. The President is accompanied by a high-level delegation to the conference, which seeks to promote African-led development initiatives while deepening international partnerships.

President John Mahama has arrived in Japan aboard Emirates flight EK318 to participate in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

Meanwhile, ‘Defiant’ Assafuah rubbishes claim that Mahama used commercial flight for Japan, Singapore trip

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— GhanaWeb (@TheGhanaWeb) August 19, 2025

Source: Citinews