Airbus scandal: There is a strong basis for conflict of interest – Gary Nimako
The Director of Legal Affairs for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gary Nimako, has indicated that former President John Dramani Mahama and his brother’s involvement in the Airbus deal constitutes a conflict of interest.
According to Mr Nimako, the former president’s decision to close a deal with a company that engaged his brother as an agent is enough to suggest a conflict of interest and should be investigated by relevant authorities.
He, however, admitted that it would be difficult to take the matter to court because there is no direct evidence to back the case.
“There is a strong basis in my view to suggest conflict of interest situations which should have been referred to relevant authorities for them to look at it again.
“What was the former President’s interest in closing this deal when he knew or ought to have known that the person behind this deal or leading the transaction was his blood brother?” he said on JoyNews.
READ ALSO: [BREAKING NEWS] Mahama Innocent Over Airbus Scandal – OSP
His comment follows the Special Prosecutor’s investigation clearing former President Mahama of any wrongdoing in the Airbus bribery scandal.
On January 31, 2020, Ghana was cited as one of five countries in which global aerospace group Airbus SE allegedly bribed or promised payments to senior officials in exchange for business favours between 2009 and 2015, according to the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
This led to a record £3 billion settlement by Airbus with France, the United Kingdom, and the United States to avoid corporate criminal charges.
READ ALSO: Airbus Scandal: OSP Withdraws Red Notice For Mahama And His Associates
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo referred the scandal to the OSP for investigations. Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor, stated in a report before he resigned from office that John Mahama was the government official code-named ‘Government Official 1’ in the UK SFO’s report.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) also made the same allegation but Mr Mahama denied the claims, and there was no conclusive evidence implicating him.
However, the OSP has recently identified the former president as Government Official 1 (GO1) in the Airbus scandal.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 8, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, also confirmed the brother of the former president, Samuel Adam Mahama, as Intermediary 5.
Giving a brief overview of investigations carried out by his office, the OSP confirmed that Mr Mahama was identified as GO1 and Individual 1 by UK and US courts respectively but played no role in the acquisition.