The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has identified former president John Dramani Mahama as ‘Government Official 1’ in the Airbus Scandal.
However, after thorough investigations, the OSP has cleared Mahama of any wrongdoing in the acquisition of military transport aircraft from Airbus.
During a press conference in Accra, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng confirmed that John Dramani Mahama was identified as Government Official 1 and Individual 1 by UK and US courts respectively, but found no evidence implicating him in the procurement process.
The OSP stated that Mahama’s interactions with Airbus officials were driven by good intentions, and that his involvement was not linked to any corruption-related offenses.
Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu initiated investigations in 2020 into an agreement made during Mahama’s administration to procure military aircraft from Airbus for the Ghana Armed Forces.
While Mahama and his brother Samuel Adam Mahama Foster were initially implicated in the scandal, the OSP’s findings have absolved Mahama of any involvement in corrupt activities.
The Airbus Scandal involved the purchase of three C295 military airplanes by Ghana, with the first aircraft received in November 2011.
The deals were presented as part of the modernization efforts for the Ghana Air Force, with funding secured through various loan agreements approved by Parliament.
The judgement by England’s Crown Court in Southwark revealed corrupt practices in the agreements covering the C295 aircraft, leading to a Deferred Prosecution Agreement between the Serious Fraud Office and Airbus SE.
Investigations uncovered bribery schemes in several countries, including Ghana, where intermediaries with ties to high-ranking officials were allegedly bribed to secure contracts.
Despite the initial suspicions surrounding the Airbus Scandal, the OSP’s investigation has exonerated former President Mahama from any involvement in corrupt activities related to the aircraft procurement.
