The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has denied reports that global aerospace group, Airbus SE paid bribes to some government officials during the administration of the late Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills and John Mahama.
The party in a statement signed by former Attorney General & Minister for Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong argued that media reports on the issue did not capture the true reflection of the approved judgement of the case in the UK.
A news report carried by local and foreign press over the weekend indicated that, Airbus had agreed on a settlement with the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) which had found a number of irregularities involving agents of the company.
Among other statements, the SFO said Airbus hired and disguised payments to a close relative of a government official in Ghana with no aerospace experience in connection with a sale of military transport planes, the SFO said.
The findings spanned activities between 2009 and 2015, a period when the late Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills and John Mahama were at the helm of governance in Ghana.
Below is a copy of the NDC statement:
Our attention has been drawn to media reports about a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) entered between Airbus SE and the United Kingdom Serious Fraud Office in respect of the practice of Airbus SE in paying commission to its agents and the use of those commissions.
The reports alleging that Airbus SE paid bribes during the administration of President John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama are false, misleading and do not reflect the Approved Judgment. Indeed, the Approved Judgment of the Crown Court of Southwark approving the DPA between Airbus and the UK Serious Fraud Office does not allege that any payment was made by Airbus to any Ghanaian Government official.
It is therefore a gross distortion for the media to conclude that officials of the Ghana Government between 2009 and 2015 were bribed or paid any commissions by Airbus for the acquisition of the Casa C-295 aircrafts.
SIGNED
Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong
Former Attorney General & Minister for Justice
Sunday, February 02, 2020.
Source: Daily Graphic
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OH YEAH! I CAN NOW SMELL THE REASON WHY A BBC HOST COULD BOLDLY ASK JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA WHETHER HE HAS TAKEN A BRIBE BEFORE? THE WAY JDM STRUGGLED WITH THAT QUESTION IS LEGENDRY AND STILL MIND BOGLING. JOHN NIE, CORRUPTION NIE! LONG LIVE MOTHER GHANA, LONG LIVE THE GREAT ADAKLU KINGDOM! LONG LIVE THE GREAT ELEPHANT
I just hope this statement did not come from the NDC that no government officials were bribed! When the payer of the bribe has been punished with a 3billion fine you still sit there and say no government officials were bribed! You think Ghanaians are as d.umb as you are? This is clearly a matter that cannot be defended by any sane person. Did they read the statement by the British and American courts giving the details of the dubious and shady nature of the deals for which Airbus was heftily fined? This country is tired of the scandal perpetrated by the NDC and NPP which have impoverished this country for too long! Enough! Ghana should take these parties out of power for the next 20 years if we are to move forward!
You should ashame of yourself madam. Very disgusting.
WHY THE RUNNING FOR COVER? LET THE UK COURTS/SFO AND THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR DO THEIR INDEPENDENCE WORK. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. WHY PREEMPTING THIS INVESTIGATION STAN. PROBABLY YOU ALSO HAVE A HAND IN IT. WE SHALL NOW SEE WHO ARE CORRUPT.
Madam, Please we need the full ruling of the UK court for us to know whether your government paid bribe or not.
Please Madam consult with John Mahama when he receive it, when he was the President or not...Reference his answer at that BBC interview in 2016 or so. Besides u re not the Elected Official with relative of high influence. Better go to the UK for better particulars to explain than this ur quick PR gimmick.