Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for consistency in the application of accountability standards.
He emphasizes that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his officials should be subject to the same level of scrutiny as former President John Dramani Mahama.
He cautioned against claims of witch-hunting if such investigations occur.
Tameklo’s comments follow the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) recent report on the Airbus scandal, which identified Mahama as ‘Government Official One’ but found no evidence linking him to bribery.
According to Tameklo, Mahama has fully cooperated with investigations over the past eight years and has been cleared of wrongdoing.
“I want to use your platform to say that let nobody raise the question of witch-hunting if any relative, past or present, of President Akufo-Addo, is invited for questioning,” Tameklo said during an interview on TV3’s Key Points on August 10.
He further questioned whether Akufo-Addo would be willing to undergo the same level of scrutiny that Mahama has faced.
“Can Akufo-Addo now subject himself to the level of scrutiny that they have subjected Mahama and his relatives?” he asked.
The OSP’s report revealed that both UK and US courts identified John Mahama as ‘Government Official One’ in the Airbus bribery case. This identification, however, did not find evidence implicating him in the bribery scheme, which is a significant point to consider in the ongoing political discourse.
However, the investigation did not find evidence implicating him in the bribery scheme.
The Airbus scandal, which involves serious allegations of bribery related to Ghana’s purchase of military aircraft from Airbus between 2011 and 2015, carries significant implications, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
A Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) reached between Airbus and the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has resulted in the company agreeing to pay over £3 billion in fines but avoids immediate prosecution. This agreement, however, does not preclude future prosecution if Airbus fails to comply with the terms, which is an important aspect to keep in mind.
The DPA does not preclude future prosecution if Airbus fails to comply with the terms.
Tameklo’s statements underscore the ongoing debates over accountability and fairness in political investigations, particularly regarding how different officials and their associates are treated under the law, ensuring the audience that justice is being served.
