Airbus scandal: OSP has done a good job; deserves commendation – Domelevo insists

Former Auditor-General and prominent anti-corruption advocate, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has expressed his admiration for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for its thorough and independent handling of the Airbus scandal.

In an interview with Channel One TV on Saturday, August 10, Mr. Domelevo praised the OSP for its dedication to maintaining independence in its investigations.

Domelevo highlighted the tendency of some officials to act in ways that might please the sitting president when a case is referred to them and commended the OSP for resisting this pressure and focusing solely on the evidence, ensuring that the investigation was conducted without bias.

He emphasized the importance of the OSP’s approach, noting that it sets a strong example of how public offices should operate, free from external influence.

The OSP’s decision to present its findings without fear or favor was, according to Mr Domelevo, a testament to the office’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Mr Domelevo further urged Ghanaians to recognize and appreciate the Special Prosecutor’s efforts in remaining independence, rather than succumbing to political pressures.

He has stressed that such independence is crucial for the integrity of the country’s legal and justice systems.

Read also: Full Text: OSP concludes probe into Airbus scandal

Mr. Domelevo called on the public to support and commend the Special Prosecutor for prioritizing impartiality and transparency in his work, reinforcing the importance of independent institutions in the fight against corruption.

“I was full of commendations for him (special prosecutor) because especially when a request comes from the Office of the President, public servants are likely to read between the lines in order to tow the line of the president or what they think the president wants or wanted but I think he independently did his assessments or his investigations and came out with his report.”

“Some aspects of the report I think did not sit well with Ghanaians, some Ghanaians are very happy about the report but be it as it may, my happiness is that he has done his work independently and boldly came out with his findings…I think the OSP has done a good job,” Domelevo insisted.

Background

On January 31, 2020, Ghana was named as one of five countries where Airbus SE, a global aerospace corporation, allegedly engaged in bribery or offered payments to high-ranking officials in exchange for business favors between 2009 and 2015.

This was revealed by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and led to Airbus agreeing to a record £3 billion settlement with France, the United Kingdom, and the United States to avoid corporate criminal charges.

In response to the scandal, President Akufo-Addo referred the matter to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for investigation.

Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor, identified former President John Dramani Mahama as the official referred to as ‘Government Official 1’ in the UK SFO’s report.

This claim was made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), but Mr. Mahama denied the allegations, and no conclusive evidence was found to implicate him.

Recently, however, the OSP has confirmed that former President Mahama is indeed the individual designated as Government Official 1 (GO1) in the Airbus scandal.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 8, the current Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, also identified Samuel Mahama, the former president’s brother, as Intermediary 5 in the scandal.

During the briefing, the OSP provided a summary of its investigations, confirming that while Mr. Mahama was identified as GO1 in the UK court documents and as Individual 1 in the US, there was no evidence that he played any role in the corruption scandal that trailed the acquisition.

Read also: Full text: Mahama reacts to OSP verdict clearing him