Airbus Scandal: Kwamena Duncan blasts Special Prosecutor

Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan has taken shots at the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, for absolving President John Dramani Mahama from the Airbus corruption scandal.

A report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) found no incriminating evidence against the former President in relation to accusations against him in connection with this scandal.

Airbus, a European aircraft manufacturer, was alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana in the sale of three military aircraft to the country.

The allegations came to light after a series of investigations and prosecutions of Airbus by the US, UK, and French authorities, compelling President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refer the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigations.

Airbus, after almost four years of investigations by US, UK, and French authorities, was fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

During the investigations, Mahama’s name popped up when Airbus was said to have bribed a high-profile figure in Ghana referred to as “Government Official 1” in the documents.

Although Mr. Mahama initially denied being the one named "Government Official 1," the OSP's report has identified him as such but says he did no wrong.

“The OSP found no evidentiary basis that suggests that former President John Dramani Mahama or any other public official was induced to improperly favour or did improperly favour Airbus in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus.”

“The Special Prosecutor has directed the closure of the OSP investigation into alleged bribery of high-ranking Ghanaian officials by Airbus SE, through intermediaries, in respect of the sale of military transport aircraft by Airbus SE to the Republic of Ghana between 2009 and 2015,” it stated.

Commenting on the report during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Wednesday morning, the former Minister for Central Region, Kwamena Duncan, expressed disappointment in the Special Prosecutor.

He wondered how the Special Prosecutor came to his conclusions to acquit Mahama when findings by foreign authorities who investigated the corruption scandal found him and his relative guilty of misconduct.

In a reply to Kissi Agyebeng, Kwamena bemoaned the report, stating, "In fact, Kissi Agyebeng allowed himself to be eluded and to be invaded of logic and, forgive me, common sense."