On Saturday, President John Dramani Mahama arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, aboard Ghana’s presidential jet, the Dassault Falcon 900EX-Easy, to participate in a High-Level Retreat on African Union (AU) Institutional Reforms.

The retreat, taking place from January 26-27, 2025, will bring together African leaders to discuss the progress and future of AU reforms. The event, hosted at the invitation of Kenya’s President William Ruto, will focus on improving the efficiency, accountability, and sustainability of the AU to better address the continent’s challenges.

This marks President Mahama’s first international trip using the presidential jet since his swearing-in on January 7, 2025. According to flight data from the tracking platform Flightradar24, the jet departed Accra on January 25, made a stop in Luanda, Angola, and landed in Nairobi later that evening.

The trip follows recent scrutiny of President Mahama’s earlier use of his brother Ibrahim Mahama’s private jet for an official visit to Senegal and The Gambia. The Presidency defended this temporary arrangement, with acting spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu explaining that it was due to an ongoing review of the Communications Squadron, the Air Force unit in charge of managing the presidential fleet.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu reassured the public that the use of the private jet incurred no cost to taxpayers. “The most critical point is that this alternative arrangement has not in any way, shape, or form cost the Ghanaian taxpayer a dime,” he emphasized. He also noted that the private jet was used because it was readily available, but President Mahama would return to using the official jet once the Air Force’s review was completed.

The retreat will also serve as an opportunity for President Ruto, who was appointed the African Union Champion for Institutional Reform in February 2024, to update fellow leaders on the progress made in implementing AU reforms. He will also present proposals for the next phase of reforms for consideration.