The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has cleared former Ghanaian President John Mahama of any involvement in the controversial Airbus bribery scandal. This scandal, which had cast a shadow over the political operations for several years, revolved around allegations that bribes were paid during the procurement of aircraft from Airbus for the Ghanaian government. After a thorough investigation, the current Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, confirmed that there was no evidence to support claims of corruption against Mahama.
The Airbus bribery scandal first came to public attention in 2020, when former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu accused Mahama of being the mysterious “Government Official 1” mentioned in the case. This official was alleged to have been involved in accepting bribes from Airbus during the procurement process. Despite Mahama’s firm denials, the accusations persisted, particularly from members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), who continued to insist on his involvement.
Over the years, these accusations have fueled intense debate and speculation within Ghana’s political circles. Many were eager to see how the investigation by the OSP would unfold, especially given the high stakes involved. The case was not just about Mahama’s personal reputation but also about the integrity of Ghana’s procurement processes and the transparency of its government dealings.
After four years of speculation and accusations, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng finally addressed the issue in a press conference, where he provided an update on the findings of the investigation. Agyebeng stated categorically that neither Mahama nor his brother, Adam Mahama, who resides in the United Kingdom, had accepted any bribes related to the Airbus deal. This announcement effectively exonerated the former president from the scandal that had long haunted his political career.
According to Agyebeng, the investigation by the OSP found no evidence to suggest that Mahama was involved in any corrupt activities concerning the procurement of the military aircraft from Airbus. The processes leading to the purchase of the aircraft, he explained, had met all the necessary procurement standards. This finding was a significant revelation, as it addressed the core of the allegations that had been leveled against Mahama.
In his statement, Agyebeng emphasized that the OSP’s investigation revealed no wrongdoing on the part of Mahama in the procurement or maintenance of the agency relationship between Airbus and its associates. He stated, “The OSP investigation found no evidence that former President Mahama was involved or played any role in the procurement and maintenance of the agency relationship between Airbus and Foster and his associates in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus.”
This assertion put to rest the long-standing claims that Mahama had played a key role in securing the deal through corrupt means. Agyebeng further noted that the direct communications and meetings between Mahama and Airbus officials were conducted with good intentions. According to him, these interactions were aimed at closing the deal in a manner that was beneficial to Ghana, rather than for any personal gain.
However, despite these findings, the Special Prosecutor did express concerns about the optics of Mahama’s involvement in the negotiations. He pointed out that the close relationship between Mahama and his brother Foster Mahama, who was involved in the dealings, could have raised suspicions of improper conduct. This familial connection, combined with Mahama’s direct participation in meetings and communications with Airbus officials, may have led to reasonable suspicions, even if the intentions were above board.
Agyebeng articulated these concerns during the press conference, saying, “It ought reasonably to have occurred to former President Mahama and the Government of Ghana that the familial relationship between former President Mahama and Foster and the direct participation by former President Mahama in the communications and meetings with Airbus officials were bound to raise reasonable suspicions of improper conduct and dealings notwithstanding any claims to good faith conduct and above board dealings.”
In light of the investigation’s findings, Agyebeng offered advice for future dealings, particularly concerning the involvement of high-ranking officials in commercial transactions on behalf of the state. He recommended that the President and Vice President should avoid direct participation in such dealings to prevent any appearance of corruption or conflict of interest.
“The direct participation of the President and the Vice President (on behalf of the Republic) in commercial communications and meetings with commercial entities should not be encouraged either – as they expose these elected high officials to the specter of the slightest hint of perceived corruption that may attend international business transactions,” Agyebeng stated.
