Corruption and Mahama are like siamese twins – Wontumi

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as ‘Chairman Wontumi’ has taken ex-President Mahama to the cleaners for allegedly tarnishing the reputation of the country with his alleged involvement in shady deals, MyNewsGh.com reports.

In a media interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com, the outspoken Chairman who on countless occasion has declared his personal dislike for Mr Mahama, he stated that the Airbus scandal which has rocked the country in recent times has left a dent on the good image of Ghana on the minds of the international community and investors, blaming ex-President Mahama for the ‘shame’.

He said the ex-President is not clean when the argument of corruption comes up as he has been affected by the canker like ‘coronavirus’, adding that he and corruption are like sesame twins.

“President Mahama, his bottom is not clean. Corruption has affected him like Coronavirus. When we are talking about coronavirus, we are talking about the one from Burkina that he charged $100,000. We are talking about the President getting himself involved as government official 1.”

Listen when we talk about corruption, former President Mahama, when he sees corruption, he will enter.” He said against the host’s inclination of him withdrawal some of his comments.

Background

According to USA and UK court documents, Airbus SE, an European aircraft manufacturer is alleged to have paid bribes to top government officials between 2009 and 2015 under the erstwhile John Mahama administration when it sold three military aircraft to the country.

The revelation came to light after nearly four years of investigations by authorities in the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) and France into the business operations of Airbus, which culminated in the company being fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan within the same period.

The aerospace multinational admitted hiring the brother of a top elected Ghanaian official as its consultant for the pitch to sell the aircraft to the country.

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.

Arguments

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused former President John Dramani Mahama of being one of the officials captured in the exposé referred to as elected government official 1.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, February 3, 2020, the Communications Director of the NPP, Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa, told the press that the former President cannot exonerate himself of the revelation as the narratives fit into a description in his ‘first coup d’etat’ book and also himself.

Denial

But, the NDC which was the party in government at the time, in a statement signed by a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong said; “The reports alleging that Airbus SE paid bribes during the administration of President John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama are false, misleading and do not reflect the approved judgement.”

The President, Akufo-Addo on Monday, February 03, 2020, referred the issue to the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu asking for a speedy investigation to unravel the mystery.