Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has exonerated former President John Mahama in the Airbus scandal.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng announced on August 8 that Mahama played no role in the scandal, contradicting earlier investigations by US and UK courts.
The Airbus scandal involved bribery and corruption in Ghana’s purchase of military aircraft between 2011 and 2015.
The UK Crown Court’s judgment revealed Airbus’ involvement in bribing intermediaries linked to a high-ranking Ghanaian official.
Airbus agreed to pay over £3 billion in fines and admitted to engaging in corrupt practices in several countries, including Ghana.
The court documents exposed schemes to bribe intermediaries with close links to a powerful Ghanaian official.
However, the OSP’s investigations found no evidence of Mahama’s involvement. Kissi Agyebeng emphasized that Mahama was not implicated in the scandal, contrary to earlier suspicions.
The Airbus scandal led to Ghana purchasing three C295 aircraft, with funding from Deutsche Bank and Fidelity Bank. The deals were approved by Parliament despite opposition criticisms.
The UK Court’s judgment approved a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) between the Serious Fraud Office and Airbus SE, allowing Airbus to avoid prosecution.
The court considered the DPA fair, reasonable, and proportionate, citing potential job losses and stock market impact.
The OSP’s clearance of Mahama underscores the importance of thorough investigations and impartiality in addressing corruption allegations.
