Airbus scandal : Group petitions Akufo-Addo

Accra, Ghana - A local advocacy group, "Fixing The Country Movement", has petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo to launch a public inquiry into the Airbus Bribery Scandal, which implicated former President John Mahama.

The move comes after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) cleared Mr. Mahama and three others of any wrongdoing in the case, citing a lack of evidence.

Despite the OSP's findings, the group is demanding a more thorough investigation, citing the scandal's significance as the largest corruption case in Ghana's history.

In their petition, copied to the UK High Commissioner and US Ambassador, the group argued that a public inquiry is necessary to uncover the truth and ensure accountability.

“Indeed, payment of bribes were made and received and the beneficiary was Government Official 1,” portions of the petition signed by the Convener, Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah Bonsu claimed.

The group had previously given the OSP a 14-day ultimatum to reopen the case, which was ignored. They are now appealing to the President to intervene and ensure a comprehensive inquiry into the scandal.

Read the full petition below.

Attention:

His Excellency

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Office of President

Jubilee House Kanda – Accra

PETITION: Request For Public Inquiry/Investigations Into Mahama’s Involvement In The Airbus Bribery Scheme

Please accept my compliment.

I write to you in my personal capacity as citizen of Ghana and also Convener of the fixing the Country Movement to officially petition you for an urgent establishment of Commission of Inquiry to deal with the shameless involvement of former president John Mahama on Airbus SE corruption.

As you are aware the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has concluded its investigations into the Airbus corruption saga but failed to make prima facie case against the former president.

It is quite instructive to note that the OSP has confirmed former President John Mahama as the individual referenced as ‘Government official one’ in the Airbus bribery scandal, but went ahead to clear him of any corruption and corruption related offences.

According to the OSP’s own conclusion, Mahama is the government official one mentioned in the UK and US Court documents;

“The individual described as Government Official One by the UK court and Individual One by the US court is John Dramani Mahama. He is a citizen of Ghana, he was the Vice President of Ghana from 7th January 2009 to 2012. The President of Ghana from 2012 to 7th January 2017. His tenure of office as the Vice President coincided with the time-frame of the UK and US investigation of the first airbus campaign into the sale of 2C295 aircraft to Ghana.”

In fact, according to admissions and court documents, beginning in at least 2008 and continuing until at least 2015, Airbus engaged in and facilitated a scheme to offer and pay bribes to decision makers and other influencers, including foreign officials, in order to obtain improper business advantages and win lucrative contracts in several countries including Ghana.

As a matter of fact, judicial records made public on 31 January 2020 by the British and American authorities, which Airbus acknowledges to be true, shows that between 2009 and 2015 an Airbus subsidiary specialising in the defence sector hired the brother of a high-ranking Ghanaian elected official(Government Official 1), as well as a friend of the said brother and a third person to serve as commercial partners in the sale of three military transport aircraft, model C295, to Ghana.

It turned out that Philip Middlemiss, a renowned British actor, Leanne Davis and John Mahama’s brother, Samuel Adam Mahama were the intermediaries between Airbus and former President Mahama, otherwise known as Government Official I as identified by the US and UK authorities.

Truth is, the Airbus corruption is the biggest corruption case ever. Indeed, payment of bribes were made and received and the beneficiary was GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL 1.

Paragraph 136 of the US Court documents actually described Government official I as having a reputation for bribe taking.

It reads:

“Government Official 1” had such a reputation as a prolific bribe-collector that within three weeks of the election of the incoming Government, AND BEFORE IT WAS SWORN IN, Airbus reached agreement with brother of “Government Official 1,” described in the US version of Court documents as “Individual 1.”

Interestingly, the British judge in charge of the case found that Airbus had sought, through these kickbacks, to obtain an “undue favour” from a member of the Ghanaian government.

As a result, Ghana bought three Airbus C295 military transport aircraft – two in 2011 and another in 2015, all under the presidency of Mills/Mahama.

Respectfully sir, in the light of the above, we finds it ironical and even unacceptable for the OSP to conclude that Mahama didn’t benefit from the Airbus bribery scheme.

If the US and UK authorities have found Mahama culpable in the Airbus bribery saga, why is the OSP letting him off the hook here?

This is a crucial case which cuts to the willingness and ability of the OSP to investigate and prosecute serious alleged criminality, and pretty clearly the OSP has not been able to do so.

We, therefore, request your immediate intervention with power vested in you under Article 279 of the 1992 Constitution to ensure an inquisitorial process is activated in a prompt and impartial manner to help the people of Ghana to put this matter behind us.

I am also fortified by the knowledge that your good office would take immediate action on this matter.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah Bonsu (Convener – Fixing the Country Movement

CC//

The UK High Commissioner

The US Ambassador

Source : Lead News Online