Airbus Scandal: NPP Dep. Gen. Secretary describes OSP’s investigation as “lazy”

Haruna Mohammed, the Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has voiced strong criticism against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), accusing the agency of conducting a “lazy job” in its investigation into the Airbus bribery scandal involving former President John Dramani Mahama.

In an interview on Accra-based JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, August 8, Mohammed expressed dissatisfaction with the OSP’s decision not to prosecute the case, despite the UK court’s identification of Mahama as “Government Official 1” in the scandal. He argued that the OSP should have sought the court ruling and relevant documents from the UK, which he believes would have provided crucial evidence for a more robust investigation.

According to Mohammed, the UK operates under the same common law system as Ghana, making it feasible for the OSP to request and utilize the court’s judgement in building its case. He stressed that the OSP’s failure to obtain these documents and thoroughly examine the UK court’s judgement, including the legal opinions and references cited by the judges, reflects poorly on the thoroughness of their investigation.

“The OSP has done a lazy job because you can’t conclude by saying that you don’t have all the facts at hand; hence you cannot prosecute the case. Did he go to ask for the judgement? What was the material used in the judgement in the UK? Has he been denied the judgement?” Mohammed questioned, suggesting that the OSP’s lack of effort in this regard undermines the integrity of the investigation.

He further implied that the OSP’s decision not to prosecute could be seen as an attempt to protect high-profile individuals, thereby raising questions about the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability. Mohammed’s comments have added fuel to the ongoing debate over the handling of the Airbus scandal, with critics arguing that the OSP’s actions, or lack thereof, may have political motivations.

The Airbus scandal, which came to light in 2020, involved allegations of bribery and corruption in the sale of military aircraft to several countries, including Ghana. The UK court identified Mahama as “Government Official 1” and his brother, Samuel Mahama, as an intermediary in the deal. However, the OSP’s recent ruling cleared Mahama of any wrongdoing, stating that there was no evidence to suggest his involvement in corrupt activities related to the deal.

Mr Mohammed’s remarks have sparked renewed calls for a more comprehensive investigation into the scandal, with some political figures and members of the public demanding greater transparency and accountability from both the OSP and the government.