Mahama is govt official 1 in Airbus scandal - Special Prosecutor Amidu

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Nov - 02 - 2020 , 21:01 3 minutes read

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says it has established the identity of the elected Government official 1 in the Airbus SE scandal as former President John Dramani Mahama.

According to the Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu, “the only reason the former President [Mahama] has not been invited for interrogation (in spite of all threats from some of his followers and lawyers) is the fact that he got himself an insurance as the Presidential candidate of the other largest political party in Ghana."

He argued that "prudence dictated that the interrogation be held in abeyance during this election season.”

Mr Amidu stated these as part of his observations in the corruption risk assessment report on the Agyapa Royalties deal which he submitted to the Office of the President on October 16, 2020.

Mr Amidu also indicated that former President Mahama as of now has not offered to make any voluntary statement to his Office (OSP) despite the publication of an alleged interview containing admissions purportedly made by the former President to a Daily Graphic reporter without the full voice recording which in the meantime remains just hearsay.

Citing some of the cases his office was working on in relation to the fight against corruption in Ghana, Mr Amidu mentioned that his Office also has warrants of arrest issued by the Courts of Ghana, and an Interpol Red Alert Notice outstanding for execution in the case of the Republic v. Samuel Adam Mahama and Others (known as the Airbus SE – Ghana Bribery Scandal involving the then Government of Ghana).

He added that he also has documentary evidence of suspected forgeries and deceit of a public officer by the three full blood brothers in the corruption transaction to obtain a Ghanaian passport for Samuel Adam Mahama, who he said was a “blood brother” of former President Mahama.

Former PPA boss Adjenim Boateng Adjei

He indicated that he has ongoing investigations against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei; the National Lotteries Authority; Charles Bissue, and others.

He said an issue of identity which needs resolution has held up the Bissue case.

Other investigation cases he is working on are the Members of Parliament Vehicle Loan Affair which affects Members of Parliament from both sides of Parliament, which is still pending and a decision on whether or not to prosecute due to unjustifiable delay by seconded staff in carrying out instructions for clarification on certain pertinent issues.

He said the delays have in the main been actuated by the fact that no staff has been independently employed of his Office due to lack of sheer physical office space, resulting in the use of staff on short duration secondment whose commitment may depend on how their main employers stay away from interfering with the work of his Office during their short tenure.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

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Below is a copy of the full report