Banda MP names NPP minister who was part of Airbus deal

Member of Parliament for Banda in the Bono region has named a minister in Akufo-Addo’s government as part of a delegation that purchased some three aircrafts from European planemaker Airbus for the Ghana Armed Forces.

The agreement to purchase the aircrafts was approved by parliament on March 25, 2015, and Ghana took delivery of the third one on December 4, 2015.

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, who was speaking on Power 97.9 FM Wednesday morning, disclosed that Deputy Minister of Interior and Nkoranza North MP, Major RTD Derek Oduro was part of the officials who negotiated the deal.

The MP added that the retired military man was part of the committee that was set to do due diligence before the sixth parliament approved the purchase of the aircrafts, and suggested that if some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) are calling for the Special Prosecutor to investigate former president John Mahama over Airbus’ alleged payment of bribe to a Ghanaian official before the deal was approved then Derek Oduro should be called too.

“So far as I am concerned he [Derek Oduro] is a military trained man…Before the state purchased the planes, he even commended the government because it went for affordable aircrafts that met the standard the country was looking for. He [Major RTD Derek Oduro] supported us seriously and said what we [the NDC government] were going for was good. And this is in a Parliamentary hanzard,” the Deputy Minority Chief whip told host Kaakyire Appea-Apraku.

Background

Former President John Mahama has come under a barrage criticisms from government surrogates after a UK Crown Court ruled on January 20, 2020 that Airbus flouted OECD rules and paid bribes to some Ghanaian officials before the state purchased two of the aircrafts.

Airbus, after admitting to have paid bribe to some countries, therefore got fined €3 billion for flouting OECD rules.

But Mr Ibrahim who admitted to have followed the transaction between Ghana and Airbus doubts if any elected government official in Ghana received bribe from the planemaker as the court suggested.

“The transaction was transparent and the members of the committee who followed up to Italy to purchase the planes are there,” he added.