The New Patriotic Party has revealed the unnamed ‘Government Official 1’ in the Airbus bribery scandal is former President John Dramani Mahama, now presidential candidate of the NDC for the 2020 Elections.

At a press conference in Accra on Monday, the Communications Director of the party, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, said Mahama should tell the country what he knows about GO1 and the processes leading to the purchase of the aircraft form Airbus SE.

“ . . Notwithstanding the referral to the OSP, it is important to note that the former Hon Attorney General’s intervention on behalf of candidate Mahama is very weak and unable to directly respond to the hard facts as put out by the United Kingdom Serious Fraud Office (SFO). It is therefore necessary that former President, now Candidate John Dramani Mahama responds directly to the issue himself,” he stressed.

According to the NPP, the serious nature and processes involved in the accusations demand immediate action to remove any dents on the image and reputation of Ghana.

“The companies used to receive the bribe money have been named. The shareholder who is very close to the former President has been named. Document falsification, kickbacks, lies and overpayments is what the Airbus scandal is all about. And it appears John Mahama is deeply involved.

“Candidate Mahama is no stranger to speaking to the international community. He has been known to assemble diplomats even if he has nothing to say except lies as demonstrated in the false tapes saga of Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituteuncy matters,” he said.

Significantly, Buabeng Asamoa said this is just one of Mahama’s corruption scandals, where he personally led the negotiations and for his close associate to execute on his behalf and collect the bribes.

“ . . The Airbus issue appears similar to the Embraer investigations, which then Attorney General, now OSP, Martin Amidu, was tasked by President Mills to do but was aborted in mysterious circumstances,” he noted.

Last week, Airbus entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, with the British Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which was investigating the company for bribing or failing to prevent corruption in transactions in five countries, including Ghana.

Under the agreement the British SFO agreed to suspend the prosecution of Airbus for a period of three years. If Airbus complies with the terms of the agreement within the period, the prosecution will be discontinued.

NDC's Response

But the opposition NDC through its former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong has already come out to deny the reports.

In her statement released on the issue, Marietta Brew described the reports alleging that Airbus SE paid bribes during the administration of former President John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani as false, misleading and not a reflection of the Approved Judgement.

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