Mahama will speak on Airbus scandal – Okudzeto hints

Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has hinted that former President John Dramani Mahama will comment directly on the Airbus scandal in due course.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP said Mr Mahama has, regardless, commented on the issue after he “instructed” the former Attorney General to comment on it.

“You instruct your lawyer to talk for you,” he indicated.

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa was speaking on 100 Degrees on Onua TV on Friday, May 8 after host Bright Kwesi Asempa read a message from a viewer on the seeming silence of the former president on the issue.

On Friday, February 1, UK’s Royal Courts of Justice found Dutch firm Airbus SE guilty of paying bribes in shady deals in some countries including Ghana, South Korea, Mexico, Colombia and Malaysia.

In the case of Ghana, it involved government officials in 2011 and 2015.

“Between 2009 and 2015 an Airbus defence company engaged Intermediary 5, a close relative of a high ranking elected Ghanaian Government official (Government Official 1) as its BP in respect of the proposed sale of three military transport aircraft to the Government of Ghana,” the ruling on Ghana’s deal read in part.

“A number of Airbus employees knew that Intermediary 5 was a close relative of Government Official 1, who was a key decision maker in respect of the proposed sales. A number of Airbus employees made or promised success-based commission payments of approximately €5 million to Intermediary 5.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo immediately referred the matter to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).



The New Patriotic Party (NPP) later said the ‘Government Official 1’ referred to in the ruling is NDC’s leader, John Dramani Mahama.

The ruling party dared the former president to respond if otherwise.

But Mr Ablakwa, who is the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, says Mr Mahama has already commented on the issue.

He said by the statement issued immediately afterwards by Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Mr Mahama gave his response.

The North Tongu MP said if Ghanaians want a direct response from Mr Mahama, it will come during one of his Facebook Live sessions.

“He is speaking thematically and when it comes to fighting corruption when it comes as a thematic area, I am sure he will speak to it.”