Former Auditor General and anti-corruption advocate, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has praised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for its thorough investigation into the Airbus scandal.
During an appearance on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Mr. Domelevo lauded the OSP for its independent and fearless approach in handling the case, especially considering the pressures that often accompany cases referred by the President’s office.
“I commend the Special Prosecutor for his work, particularly because when requests come from the presidency, public servants may feel pressured to align with what they believe the President desires. However, the OSP conducted its investigations independently and confidently presented its findings,” Domelevo stated.
He acknowledged that while some aspects of the report have received mixed reactions from the public, the key takeaway is the OSP’s commitment to integrity and independence. “Regardless of the differing opinions on the report, my satisfaction lies in the fact that the OSP acted boldly and independently,” he added.
The Airbus scandal, which came to light on January 31, 2020, involved allegations that the global aerospace company Airbus SE had bribed or promised payments to senior officials in five countries, including Ghana, between 2009 and 2015. This resulted in Airbus paying a record £3 billion settlement to France, the UK, and the US to avoid criminal charges.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo subsequently referred the matter to the OSP for investigation. The former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, had identified former President John Mahama as “Government Official 1” (GO1) in the UK Serious Fraud Office’s report, a claim also echoed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). However, Mahama denied any involvement, and no conclusive evidence was found to implicate him.
In a recent press conference on August 8, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng reaffirmed that Mahama was indeed GO1 and was identified as Individual 1 by both UK and US courts, but clarified that he played no role in the corrupt dealings related to the scandal. Additionally, the OSP confirmed that Mahama’s brother, Samuel Mahama, was identified as Intermediary 5 in the case.