Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a prominent member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has thrown down the gauntlet to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). He has dared the NDC to produce clear and concrete evidence of corruption involving President Akufo-Addo, his family members, or his appointees. Otchere-Darko’s challenge comes in the wake of the conclusion of the Special Prosecutor’s investigation into the controversial Airbus bribery scandal, which had previously cast a shadow over former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC’s 2024 presidential candidate.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, recently cleared Mahama of any wrongdoing in the Airbus case, which had been a major talking point in Ghanaian politics for several years. The scandal, which initially broke in 2020, involved allegations that Airbus SE, a European aerospace corporation, paid bribes to government officials in various countries, including Ghana, to secure lucrative contracts. Mahama, who was referred to as “Government Official 1” in the case documents, was implicated, though he consistently denied any involvement in corruption.
Otchere-Darko, who is a cousin of President Akufo-Addo, took to social media to express his views on the matter. He described the ongoing partisan politics in Ghana as “hypocritical,” especially given the fervor with which the NDC has pushed corruption allegations against the current government. Otchere-Darko’s social media post questioned the integrity of the NDC’s accusations, particularly in light of the cleared Airbus case, which he regards as far more substantial than any claims made against the Akufo-Addo administration.
In his post, Otchere-Darko pointed out that despite the intense scrutiny and international investigations that linked the Airbus scandal to the former president, Mahama has now been exonerated by Ghana’s Special Prosecutor. However, Otchere-Darko challenged the NDC to provide a similarly solid case against President Akufo-Addo or his close associates. He criticized the NDC for relying on what he termed a “book of fiction” to allege corruption against the current government, rather than presenting factual evidence of any wrongdoing.
The NPP figure specifically called out the NDC’s narrative that suggests the current administration is more corrupt than Mahama’s tenure. He urged the opposition to place the Airbus case side by side with any of the corruption allegations they have leveled against the NPP, implying that none of the accusations against the current government are as substantial or credible. Otchere-Darko suggested that the NDC’s continued focus on corruption allegations against the Akufo-Addo government is more about political desperation than a genuine concern for good governance.
He expressed particular disdain for the NDC’s use of a document he described as fake, which the opposition has reportedly used as part of their campaign to paint the Akufo-Addo administration as corrupt. This document, according to Otchere-Darko, lacks the credibility and weight of the findings by international investigative bodies that led to fines against Airbus. The NDC, he argued, is attempting to draw unwarranted parallels between the unproven claims against the NPP and the internationally recognized Airbus scandal that implicated officials during Mahama’s presidency.
Otchere-Darko’s comments also touched on another controversy involving a take-or-pay power contract during Mahama’s administration. He alluded to a case in the United States where a senior bank official was allegedly forced to pay bribes to secure this energy deal for a Turkish company. This case, Otchere-Darko suggested, further illustrates the disparities between the NDC’s accusations against the current government and the actual cases of corruption associated with Mahama’s tenure. He criticized the financial burden these deals have placed on Ghanaian taxpayers, who have had to shoulder the costs of these contracts for several years.
Despite his criticism, Otchere-Darko expressed genuine relief for Mahama and his family, acknowledging the toll that the Airbus scandal must have taken on them over the past four years. He recognized the global significance of the scandal and how difficult it must have been for Mahama to live under the cloud of such serious accusations. Otchere-Darko’s tone, though critical of the NDC’s tactics, shifted to one of empathy when discussing the personal impact of the case on Mahama and his loved ones.
However, Otchere-Darko reiterated his call for greater transparency and accountability in Ghanaian politics. He emphasized the need for continuous scrutiny from civil society and the media to ensure that all political leaders, regardless of party affiliation, are held to the highest standards of integrity. He expressed hope that Africa, including Ghana, will continue to rise and that transparency will be a key driver of that progress.
