The Special Prosecutor of Ghana, Kissi Agyebeng, has officially cleared Former President and current National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, of any wrongdoing in the long-standing Airbus scandal.
This comes after years of speculation and legal scrutiny both domestically and internationally.
The investigation, which had attracted global attention, centered on the purchase of C-295 military transport aircraft from Airbus by the government of Ghana in 2011, during Mahama’s tenure as Vice President.
The deal became embroiled in controversy following allegations of corruption involving Airbus intermediaries, including Samuel Adam Mahama, the younger brother of the former President.
However, in a detailed report, the Special Prosecutor affirmed that there was no evidence linking John Mahama to any corrupt practices in the transaction.
According to the findings, Mahama's interactions with Airbus officials were driven by legitimate state interests, and his involvement in the deal was in full compliance with Ghanaian laws.
The report also highlighted that Samuel Adam Mahama's role as an intermediary in the Airbus-Ghana deal was purely coincidental and did not amount to any corruption-related offense.
The OSCE which also reviewed the case, echoed similar conclusions, noting that there was nothing unusual or illicit about the deal that would warrant the attention it received from U.K. and U.S. authorities.
With this clearance, John Mahama’s path to the upcoming elections appears unencumbered by the legal challenges that have dogged his political career in recent years.
This decision is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape as the nation heads to the polls.
Background
The Airbus scandal, often referred to as "Airbusgate," is a corruption case that has cast a shadow over the political career of former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
The controversy centers on a deal struck in 2011, during Mahama's tenure as Vice President, for the purchase of C-295 military transport aircraft from the European aerospace giant, Airbus.
The scandal first came to light in 2020, when Airbus entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The agreement revealed that Airbus had engaged in a widespread bribery scheme across multiple countries, including Ghana, to secure lucrative contracts.
The allegations suggested that these intermediaries were paid bribes to facilitate the deal, raising questions about the integrity of the procurement process and whether then-President Mahama had a role in the corrupt scheme.
The case quickly became a political hotbed, with Mahama's opponents using it to question his integrity and suitability for leadership.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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