Fixing the Country Movement petitions Akufo-Addo to institute a public inquiry into Airbus ‘scandal’

A pro-government pressure group, Fixing the Country Movement, has petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to institute a public inquiry into the Airbus scandal.

They sent a copy of the petition to the UK High Commission and the American Embassy in Accra.

The group had expressed dissatisfaction with the recent report of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) which found no allegation of bribery against the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Former President John Dramani Mahama despite identifying him as the Government Official One in the ‘scandal’.

The Petition signed by its Convener Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah Bonsu said “Respectfully sir, in the light of the above, we find it ironical and even unacceptable for the OSP to conclude that Mahama did not benefit from the Airbus bribery scheme.

“If the US and UK authorities have found Mahama guilty in the Airbus bribery saga, why is the OSP letting him off the hook here? This is a crucial case which cuts to the willingness and ability of the OSP to investigate and prosecute serious alleged criminality, and pretty clearly the OSP has not been able to do so.

“We, therefore, request your immediate intervention with power vested in you under Article 279 of the 1992 Constitution to ensure an inquisitorial process is activated in a prompt and impartial manner to help the people of Ghana to put this matter behind us.”

Below is the full petition…

Attention:
His Excellency
President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Office of the President
Jubilee House Kanda – Accra

PETITION: Request For Public Inquiry/Investigations Into Mahama’s Involvement In The Airbus Bribery Scheme

Please accept my compliment.

I write to you in my personal capacity as citizen of Ghana and also agree of the fixing the Country Movement to officially petition you for an urgent establishment of Commission of Inquiry to deal with the shameless involvement of former president John Mahama on Airbus SE corruption.

As you are aware the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has concluded its investigations into the Airbus corruption saga but failed to make a prima facie case against the former president.

It is quite instructive to note that the OSP has confirmed former President John Mahama as the individual referenced as ‘Government official one’ in the Airbus bribery scandal, but went ahead to clear him of any corruption and corruption related offenses.

According to the OSP’s own conclusion, Mahama is the government official one mentioned in the UK and US Court documents;

“The individual described as Government Official One by the UK court and Individual One by the US court is John Dramani Mahama. He is a citizen of Ghana, he was the Vice President of Ghana from 7th January 2009 to 2012. The President of Ghana from 2012 to 7th January 2017. His tenure of office as the Vice President coincides with the time-frame of the UK and US investigation of the first airbus campaign into the sale of 2C295 aircraft to Ghana.”

In fact, according to admissions and court documents, beginning in at least 2008 and continuing until at least 2015, Airbus engaged in and facilitated a scheme to offer and pay bribes to decision makers and other influencers, including foreign officials, in order to obtain improper business advantages and win lucrative contracts in several countries including Ghana.

As a matter of fact, judicial records made public on 31 January 2020 by the British and American authorities, which Airbus acknowledges to be true, shows that between 2009 and 2015 an Airbus subsidiary specializing in the defense sector hired the brother of a high-ranking Ghanaian elected official (Government Official 1), as well as a friend of the said brother and a third person to serve as commercial partners in the sale of three military transport aircraft, model C295, to Ghana.

It turned out that Philip Middlemiss, a renowned British actor, Leanne Davis and John Mahama’s brother, Samuel Adam Mahama were the intermediaries between Airbus and former President Mahama, otherwise known as Government Official I as identified by the US and UK authorities.

Truth is, the Airbus corruption is the biggest corruption case ever. Indeed, payment of bribes were made and received and the beneficiary was GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL 1.

Paragraph 136 of the US Court documents actually described Government official I as having a reputation for bribe taking.

It reads:

“Government Official 1” had such a reputation as a prolific bribe-collector that within three weeks of the election of the incoming Government, AND BEFORE IT WAS SWORN IN, Airbus reached agreement with brother of “Government Official 1,” described in the US version of Court documents as “Individual 1.”

Interestingly, the British judge in charge of the case found that Airbus had sought, through these kickbacks, to obtain an “undue favor” from a member of the Ghanaian government.

As a result, Ghana bought three Airbus C295 military transport aircraft – two in 2011 and another in 2015, all under the presidency of Mills/Mahama.

Respectfully sir, in the light of the above, we find it ironical and even unacceptable for the OSP to conclude that Mahama did not benefit from the Airbus bribery scheme.

If the US and UK authorities have found Mahama guilty in the Airbus bribery saga, why is the OSP letting him off the hook here?

This is a crucial case which cuts to the willingness and ability of the OSP to investigate and prosecute serious alleged criminality, and pretty clearly the OSP has not been able to do so.

We, therefore, request your immediate intervention with power vested in you under Article 279 of the 1992 Constitution to ensure an inquisitorial process is activated in a prompt and impartial manner to help the people of Ghana to put this matter behind us.

I am also fortified by the knowledge that your good office would take immediate action on this matter.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah Bonsu (Convener – Fixing the Country Movement

DC//
The UK High Commissioner
The US Ambassador