Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has assured the public that President Mahama did not violate any laws by accepting and donating two electric vehicles, stressing that the process was entirely above board.

The Minister emphasized that although accepting gifts is not illegal, Ghanaian law requires that any gift exceeding a certain value must be officially declared and surrendered to the state.

“If a gift exceeds GH₵20,000, it must be declared and handed over to the state. That is precisely what President Mahama did, so he has not committed any offence,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu emphasised.

His remarks come in the wake of the President’s launch of a new Code of Conduct for appointees, during which he disclosed receiving two electric vehicles as gifts—both of which he subsequently handed over to the state.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on Wednesday, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that the vehicles were presented by a Ghanaian company and a Chinese firm operating locally.

He emphasized that the gesture formed part of a broader effort to support Ghana’s transition to green energy and environmentally friendly transportation.

“There is no law that prohibits the acceptance of gifts,” he asserted. “Some companies provide their products to prominent individuals in the hope that, by using them, these individuals will increase public awareness of the products and potentially encourage others to patronise them.”

The Minister explained that it is common practice for individuals in high-profile positions to receive promotional items from businesses seeking visibility.

“On a daily basis, people bring such items with the intention of gaining support for promotion,” he said.

According to Mr Kwakye Ofosu, the electric cars were given to President John Mahama in line with this principle.

The gesture, he said, aligns with the government’s broader environmental agenda and the President’s influential role in shaping public perception.

“The cars in question are electric vehicles… and the companies gifted the cars to the President in line with the broader goal of transitioning to green energy,” he said.

He further explained that the President's use of the cars could encourage the public to patronise them.

“His use of the vehicles could help encourage the public to adopt them,” he noted.

He further noted that such a requirement is not exclusive to Ghana, as similar provisions exist in the legal systems of many developed democracies—the only difference being the varying financial thresholds set by each country.