Airbus Scandal: President and Vice President should be insulated from direct commercial dealings — OSP

Special Prosecutor Lawyer Kissi Agyebeng

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has advised that the President and Vice President should avoid direct involvement in commercial dealings.

This followed its investigation into allegations of bribery by Airbus SE in a military aircraft deal with Ghana.

In its report on the over four-year-long investigation released on Thursday, August 8, the OSP observed 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 – as they give rise to reasonable suspicion of influence peddling and conflict of interest."

The OSP was referring to former President John Mahama's interaction with Airbus officials during negotiations for the purchase of military transport aircraft by Ghana between 2009-2015.

Mr. Mahama, who was then Vice President, admitted to meeting Airbus representatives in London in 2011 and receiving them a few times in his office while the deals were ongoing.

In the report, the OSP said "it ought reasonably to have occurred to former President Mahama and the Government of Ghana that the familial relationship between former President Mahama and [his brother who worked for Airbus] and the direct participation by former President Mahama in the communications and meetings with Airbus officials were bound to raise reasonable suspicions of improper conduct and dealings."

It added 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 – as they give rise to reasonable suspicion of influence peddling and conflict of interest."

The OSP's observation comes after it found no evidence of criminality in the dealings but said Mahama's meetings with Airbus exposed him to "the spectre of the slightest hint of perceived corruption."

The investigative body advised that "the President and Vice President should be insulated from such direct commercial dealings" to protect the integrity of public officials.