The two vehicles declared by President John Dramani Mahama and donated to the state
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has finally disclosed the source of the two vehicles that were presented as gifts to President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on Asempa FM on May 7, 2025, Felix Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that the vehicles were donated by a Ghanaian company and a Chinese firm, as part of efforts to support a green energy initiative aligned with the government’s vision, noting that the vehicles in question were electric.
“The cars I presented to the state through the Chief of Staff were electric vehicles (EVs) that use batteries. Since it is modern, some companies want to introduce it into the country. The cars gifted to the president are from two different companies, a Ghanaian company and a Chinese firm operating in Ghana, who wanted the president to help promote the green energy initiative by using these vehicles, and by doing so, it would encourage others to go in that direction,” he clarified.
Kwakye Ofosu, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, explained that the companies’ decision to gift the vehicles was part of an effort to promote electric cars in Ghana.
He referenced instances where prominent individuals endorsing a product can greatly enhance its visibility and appeal, thereby encouraging wider public adoption — an approach he said underpinned the rationale behind the companies’ decision to present the vehicles as gifts.
“There are some companies who believe that if prominent people use or patronise their products, it will help promote the products, and so, on a daily basis, people come with this perception in mind, getting you to help promote it,” he said.
Kwakye Ofosu further clarified that the president acted in accordance with the code of conduct by declaring the vehicles and subsequently presenting them to the state, as their value exceeded the stipulated threshold of GH¢20,000.00.
He dismissed criticisms regarding the president’s acceptance of the gifts, emphasising that the president committed no wrongdoing. Ofosu stated that the president did not personally use the cars but instead placed them in the state pool for official use.
“There are no laws that prohibit the acceptance of gifts, but if it exceeds a certain threshold, you must declare it and give it to the state poo,l and that is the same law in many advanced democratic countries, only that there are different thresholds.
“In the case of Ghana, the threshold is GH¢20,000.0,0, which means if a gift exceeds this amount, you must declare it to the state, and that is exactly what President Mahama did. He has not committed any crime or breached the law. He hasn’t used the cars, but sometimes it helps to promote local industries or companies trying to help the Ghanaian economy, and there is nothing wrong with this and should not attract criticisms,” he added.
MAG/VPO
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