Former President John Dramani Mahama has strongly criticized the Airbus bribery scandal, dismissing it as a baseless effort by the Akufo-Addo administration to label him as corrupt falsely.
Speaking at a lecture marking the 10th anniversary of PV Obeng’s death in Kumasi, Mahama expressed profound relief and satisfaction with the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) findings, which unequivocally cleared him of any wrongdoing in the Airbus scandal.
“We in the NDC do not place ourselves above society; we are humble and honest enough to submit ourselves to investigative bodies if there’s a basis for it.
I have been out of Office for over seven years, and no allegation of wrongdoing, including the baseless Airbus scandal, has been proven against me,” Mahama stated, emphasizing his vindication.
The OSP had previously identified Mahama as ‘Government Official One’ in the Airbus SE case. This identification came as part of broader investigations into bribery allegations involving Airbus, a major aircraft manufacturer. As ‘Government Official One’, Mahama was allegedly involved in the facilitation of the aircraft purchase.
The Airbus scandal revolves around Ghana’s purchase of three C295 military aircraft from Airbus.
The first aircraft was delivered in November 2011, the second in April 2012, and the third in November 2015.
These transactions were part of efforts to modernize Ghana’s Air Force, with funding obtained through various loans.
The controversy intensified after a 2020 judgment by England’s Crown Court in Southwark highlighted bribery schemes involving Airbus.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the UK found that Airbus had engaged in corrupt practices, including bribing intermediaries to secure contracts in several countries, including Ghana.
These bribes were part of a larger scheme where Airbus used intermediaries to facilitate the sale of the aircraft, with the bribes being disguised as commissions.
The SFO’s investigation revealed that Airbus used intermediaries to facilitate the sale of the aircraft, with bribes disguised as commissions.
Although no direct evidence implicated Mahama in accepting bribes, the case has led to widespread scrutiny of the contracts and the procurement process.
Mahama has maintained his innocence, asserting that the OSP’s findings validate his position. The former President also vehemently criticized the current government’s relentless attempts to use the scandal as a political weapon to discredit him.
Despite the OSP’s findings, the scandal remains a point of contention in Ghanaian politics.
The SFO’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with Airbus allows the company to avoid immediate prosecution in exchange for agreeing to pay substantial fines and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
As the situation evolves, the focus remains on the potential prosecution of individuals and intermediaries involved in the bribery schemes.
Ongoing investigations may lead to further legal actions, underscoring the gravity of the scandal.
