The Fixing the Country Movement has sharply criticized the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for its handling of the Airbus corruption scandal, which has implicated former President John Mahama.
During a press conference on Sunday, August 11, 2024, convener Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah Bonsu condemned the OSP’s investigation as a “complete whitewash,” accusing the office of inadequate scrutiny of the case.
“The OSP’s investigation is not just a whitewash; it falls far short of what could have been achieved with the resources and authority available to combat corruption effectively in this country,” Owusu-Bempah stated.
He called for an independent and thorough review to challenge the OSP’s conclusions and urged the British High Commission and the US Embassy to become actively involved.
Owusu-Bempah criticized the OSP, under Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, for failing to address evidence presented in investigations by authorities in the UK and the US, where Airbus SE was found guilty of bribery related to lucrative contracts, including a military aircraft sale to Ghana between 2009 and 2015. The Fixing the Country Movement pointed to court records showing that payments were made to intermediaries, including Samuel Adam Mahama, brother of John Mahama, to facilitate these transactions.
The group is demanding that the investigation be reopened, asserting that the OSP’s decision to clear Mahama was unjust. They have given the OSP a 14-day deadline to reassess the case. If no action is taken within this period, they plan to organize a public demonstration to demand further investigation and accountability.
“We are giving the OSP 14 days to reinvestigate the Airbus scandal and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Should they fail to act, we will mobilize a public protest to demand justice for the Ghanaian people,” Owusu-Bempah declared.
