Mr Domelovo has said he believes some Ghanaians are not happy with the report but Mr Agyebeng has done a good and independent job.

“I was full of commendations for him (special prosecutor) because especially when a request comes from the office of the president, public servants are likely to read between the lines to toe the line of the president or what they think the president wants or wanted but I think he independently did his assessments or his investigations and came out with his report.”

“Some aspects of the report I think did not sit well with Ghanaians, some Ghanaians are very happy about the report but be it as it may, my happiness is that he has done his work independently and boldly come out with his findings…I think the OSP has done a good job,” he stated on Accra-based Channel One TV.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama and his brother, Samuel Adams Mahama were alleged to be entangled in the scandal.

However, Mr Agyebeng on Thursday said the outcome of a four-year probe into the bribery scandal in which he exonerated the former President and other officials from bribery allegations.

Giving a brief overview of the OSP’s investigations, Mr Agyebeng noted no corruption offence was found against Mr Mahama.

He, however, expressed concern over Mr Mahama’s communications with Airbus officials in the purchase of the aircraft.

The Special Prosecutor noted that the direct or indirect involvement of highly elected public officials in such transactions raises potential suspicion of conflict of interest, suggesting that the former President ought to have known better.

The OSP’s report has however not gone down with many, especially New Patriotic Party (NPP) members who have called for the investigation to be re-examined.

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In an interview on JoyNews‘ Newsfile on Saturday, August 10, he emphasised that the OSP is rather authorised to request cases from other relevant bodies, including the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

“What Gary is saying is not intended in the law that set up the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The law did not say that if the OSP concluded that its jurisdiction in the matter had not been properly evoked, it could suggest other institutions to take it up,” he said.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) accused former President John Dramani Mahama of corruption in relation to the Airbus scandal, which involved the procurement of aircraft for the Ghana Armed Forces.

The case was referred to the OSP in September 2020 to investigate possible conflicts of interest, bribery, and corruption.

After a four-year investigation, the OSP cleared John Mahama, his brother Adams Foster Mahama, and others of any wrongdoing.

Despite these findings, NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs, Gary Nimako, suggested that the matter should still be investigated by other bodies.

According to Mr Nimako, then-Vice President Mahama’s decision to close a government procurement deal with a company that engages his brother as an agent is enough to suggest a conflict of interest and should be investigated by relevant authorities.

However, Mr Fuseini disagreed.

He added that he would have been shocked if the OSP arrived at a different conclusion.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Haruna Mohammed, has expressed satisfaction that the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s investigation has identified former President John Mahama as “Government Official 1” in the Airbus bribery scandal.

In an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, August 8, he said the “confirmation has strengthened the case for the NPP”, adding that “crime has no expiring date,” and that the case can be pursued at any time.

Mr Mohammed also mentioned that the NPP’s lawyers will review the OSP’s report and that the party is satisfied with the identification of John Mahama as “Government Official 1.”

“The NPP will state our position but we are very happy that the government official one is clearly John Mahama,” he added.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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According to the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress should have known that his involvement would raise a reasonable suspicion of improper conduct and dealings notwithstanding his claim of good intention.

“… especially because during the first Airbus campaign former President Mahama was the Chairman of the Armed Forces Council by reason of his position as the Vice President – and therefore a key decision-maker”, he said.

Briefing the press on Thursday, August 8, Mr Agyebeng stressed that, “such close proximity dealings by such elected high officials of the Republic and their kin and close associates on behalf of the Republic should neither be viewed favourably nor encouraged.

He said the act could be labelled as influence peddling or viewed as a 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 spectre of the slightest hint of perceived corruption that may attend international business transactions. The President and Vice President should be insulated from such direct commercial dealings,” he added.

The OSP was, however, quick to add that no evidence of corruption was established against the former president and his brother after the extensive investigation into the scandal.

“It seems to the OSP that the only reason why the Ghana Airbus deal found its way into the UK and US DPA were the fact that former President Mahama and Samuel Adam Foster were brothers of full blood and that former President Mahama directly participated in commercial communications and meetings with Airbus officials.

“This is because the OSP found no evidence circumstantial or direct which suggests that Foster and his associates were actually paid bribes and these bribes were to be transmitted to former President Mahama and that those bribes were actually paid to him.

“Indeed, to all intents and purposes and objectively viewed, an agency relation existed between Airbus and Foster and his associates by which Foster and his associates acted as business partners of Airbus in respect of the Airbus – Ghana deal under which Foster and his associates were to be remunerated success-based commissions.”

Background

Ghana bought three Military Airplanes – C295s – from Airbus. The nation received its first C295 in November 2011. The second aircraft was obtained in April 2012 and the third in November 2015.

The deals covering them were argued at the time to align with the 2009-2012 Strategic Plan of the Ghana Armed Forces.

All three purchases, approved by Ghana’s Parliament after heated disagreements on the floor, were roundly marketed by the government of the day as a drive to modernise Ghana’s Air Force.

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Full Text: OSP concludes probe into Airbus scandal

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Airbus scandal: Mahama is Government Official one – OSP [Audio]