The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has issued a sharp critique of President John Dramani Mahama, warning that the President’s recent travel choices are sending “conflicting signals” regarding his commitment to fiscal discipline and the public code of conduct.
In a pointed post shared on his official Xaccount, Cudjoe questioned the President’s decision to reportedly use a private aircraft belonging to his brother, businessman Ibrahim Mahama, without providing a clear economic or security justification to the Ghanaian public.
Cudjoe’s criticism stems from a perceived double standard. He pointed out that while the President has demanded that his appointees provide strict economic justification before embarking on international or domestic travel, the same standard does not seem to apply to the Presidency.
“Mr. President, with due respect, you cannot be asking your appointees not to travel without providing economic justification and then you jump on your brother’s plane without providing us reasons why you think it is the only safe, available and cheaper airline,” Cudjoe stated.
The IMANI boss highlighted a recent public relations win for the President, where his communications team shared videos of him flying on a commercial airline—a move that was widely applauded by the public as a sign of humility and cost-saving leadership.
However, Cudjoe argued that reverting to the use of a private jet—especially one owned by a family member—undermines that narrative. He noted that this is the second time such an occurrence has been reported, suggesting a pattern that threatens to erode public trust.
Perhaps the most stinging part of the critique was Cudjoe’s reference to the infamous “Dead Goat” syndrome—a term famously used by President Mahama during his previous term to describe his perceived indifference to public protests and criticism.
Cudjoe warned that repeating these actions could revive that negative image, which many voters had previously rejected.
“Seriously, this sends conflicting signals about your own fidelity to the public code of conduct for public office… you may be earning back your own ‘dead goat’ syndrome, which was last rejected by many. Please stop,” the post concluded
