Domelevo Applauds OSP for Handling Airbus Scandal

Former Auditor General and anti-corruption advocate Daniel Yaw Domelevo has lauded the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for its thorough investigation into the Airbus scandal.

In an interview on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Domelevo praised the OSP for its independence and integrity in handling the case.

He commended the Special Prosecutor for conducting an unbiased investigation despite the potential pressures from high-level officials.

“I was full of commendations for the Special Prosecutor because, particularly when a request comes from the Office of the President, public servants might feel inclined to align with the president’s expectations,” Domelevo said.

“However, the OSP independently conducted its assessments and presented its findings with courage.”

Domelevo acknowledged that while some aspects of the report may have been controversial or received mixed reactions from the public, he valued the OSP’s commitment to an impartial investigation.

“My satisfaction lies in the fact that the OSP did its job independently and boldly presented its findings,” he added.

The Airbus scandal emerged when Ghana was listed among five countries where the global aerospace firm Airbus SE allegedly engaged in bribery between 2009 and 2015, according to the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Airbus subsequently reached a record £3 billion settlement with France, the UK, and the US to avoid corporate criminal charges.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo referred the case to the OSP for investigation.

Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu indicated that John Mahama was the government official referred to as ‘Government Official 1’ in the SFO report.

Mahama contested this claim and denied any wrongdoing.

The OSP’s recent findings confirmed that while Mahama was identified as Government Official 1 (GO1) and Individual 1 by the UK and US courts, there was no evidence implicating him in the corruption associated with the Airbus deal.

Additionally, the OSP identified Samuel Mahama, the former president’s brother, as Intermediary 5 in the scandal.

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng’s press conference on August 8 reiterated that Mahama played no role in the acquisition despite the findings, affirming the OSP’s stance on the matter.