Airbus Scandal: Investigations...When Ghana Did Not Lose Any Money? – Stan Dogbe Asks Nana Addo

Even before the Office of the Special Prosecutor, tasked by President Akufo-Addo to unravel the complicity of any past or present public official in the infamous Airbus scandal, Former Head of Communications at the Presidency during ex-President Mahama’s tenure, Stan Xoese Dogbe believes considering "Ghana did not lose any money" there is need for government to investigate the matter. 

The aide to the former President, in a Facebook post, wants the Akufo-Addo government to rather probe his corruption-laden "family and cronies" appointees; their sordid enterprises which are "still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians". 

"Ha ha ha!! Finally, the SP [Special Prosecutor] will have some work to do."

"But please, Mr. Akufo-Addo, given that Gov’t of Ghana did not lose any money in this Airbus matter, and yet you are willing to attempt some so-called investigation, just asking, why wont you rather investigate the nepotism-induced $24m tax waiver you gave to your in-law which will be at a cost to the tax payer?"

"The criminal PDS scandal involving your family and cronies is also still fresh in our minds ooo!" Stan Dogbe's post read.

Prez Charges Martin Amidu

Following news of the Crown Court at Southwark in the United Kingdom's judgement on 31st January, 2020, between the Director of the Serious Fraud Office and Airbus SE, in which the European multinational aerospace corporation was fined $3.9 billion for the payment of bribes to secure deals in five countries, including Ghana, the Office of the President charged the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, to with immediate effect delve into the bottom of the Airbus bribery scandal and investigate the complicity of any public official, "past or present" who may have been involved in the saga.

"....President Akufo-Addo has taken notice of the judgement and its implications, and has referred it to the Office of Special Prosecutor to collaborate with its UK counterparts to conduct a prompt inquiry to determine the complicity or otherwise of any Ghanaian government official, past or present, involved in the said scandal, and to take the necessary legal action against any such official, as required by Ghanaian law," a statement signed by Communications Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin read.

 “Grave, Pervasive and Pernicious

A London High Court found Airbus guilty, and imposed a fine of three billion pounds (£3bn) as penalties.

Airbus was charged with five counts of failing to prevent bribery, having used a network of secret agents to pay large-scale backhanders to officials in foreign countries to land high-value contracts.

Anti-corruption investigators, according to The Guardian, have described the court's decision as the largest ever corporate fine for bribery in the world. A judge declared the corruption was “grave, pervasive and pernicious.”