Airbus saga: You are responsible – Akpaloo challenges Mahama

The leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) Mr. Percival Kofi Akpaloo has challenged former President John Dramani over his alleged involvement in the Airbus bribery saga.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr. Akpaloo said the €35 million involved in the purchase of the aircraft as at that time, was equivalent to $40 million and asked, “why should we spend $40 million to buy an aircraft that was selling at $25 million?”

“From 2009 to 2016, the NDC was in charge of this country. Whatever happened between that time, they are responsible. We want the former President to tell everybody who the Government Official 1 is”, Mr. Kofi Akpaloo, said.

“Now when you mention Ghana anywhere around the world, people associate it with bribery and corruption. Former President Mahama needs to help us fight it by addressing this issue,” he added.

Airbus SE, the European aircraft manufacturer, is alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana when it sold the three military aircraft to the country.

The company admitted hiring the relation of a top elected Ghanaian official whose company was based in Spain as its consultant in the sale of the aircraft

Also, Airbus confessed paying the said consultant through a third party when its Compliance Unit raised red flags about the close relationship between the consultant and the top elected official who was a key decision-maker in the purchase of the military aircraft.