Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the Airbus ‘scandal” as a baseless attempt by the Akufo-Addo government to brand him as a corrupt person.
Airbus Scandal
Airbus, an European aircraft manufacturer, was alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana in the sale of three military aircraft to the country.
The allegations which came to light after a series of investigations and prosecutions of Airbus by the US, the UK and France authorities, led President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refer the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigations in February 2020.
Airbus, following nearly 4 years of investigations by authorities in the USA, the UK and France, was fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan.
Mahama's name dropped in this scandal with someone being referred to as "Governor Official 1" who was initially said to be the former President but it was denied.
A recent report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has found Mahama to be "Governor Official 1", however, he is cleared of the corruption allegations.
Mahama's response
Mahama in reaction said the report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) that found no evidence of wrongdoing on his part is a pleasant vindication for him.
He continued that no allegation of corruption including the Airbus ‘scandal” has been proven against him for more than seven years after leaving office.
“We in the NDC do not place ourselves above society, we are humble and honest enough to submit ourselves to investigative bodies if a basis for it arises. Relatedly, I have been out of office for more than 7 years and several months, and no allegation of wrongdoing has been proven against me including the baseless Airbus brouhaha that this government attempted to clothe me with.
“Once again today I say it is a pleasant feeling to stand vindicated,” the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said when he delivered a lecture at the 10th anniversary of the death of PV Obeng in Kumasi on Friday, August 9.
