Airbus Scandal: "Hallelujah, We Welcome Martin Amidu’s Investigation . . ." - Mahama’s Aide

Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, a Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, says the office of the former President welcomes the decision taken by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to investigate the Airbus bribery scandal.

According to him, Mr Mahama is elated by directive to the Special Prosecutor led by Martin Amidu and not at all troubled. 

I have seen that the government of Ghana has issued a statement emphasizing the need for Martin Amidu’s office to collaborate with the UK to investigate this matter with speed. Hallelujah, I thank God that President is making such move,” he asserted.

Speaking on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe said "everybody knows in this country that Martin Amidu does not like John Mahama; no one can say that Martin Amidu is a friend of John Mahama. He doesn’t like to see the face of John Mahama and so I am happy that the President has instructed such a person to investigate the Airbus scandal or this allegation of bribery”.

He was hopeful that at the end of the investigation on the Airbus scandal, nobody will be able to give the excuse that the report was masterminded to favor former President John Dramani Mahama as the outcome of the investigation will vindicate him.

If you look at the political discourse in this country, you will see that Martin Amidu is the bitterest enemy of John Mahama; he does not want to see the face of John Mahama and that was part of the reasons why Nana Addo handed over the position of the Special Prosecutor to him. He wanted him to hunt John Mahama and his appointees and we welcome the decision of the President to investigate Airbus scandal”.

. . there is something we call, vindication lies in the womb of time and if you want someone to vindicate you, it should be your enemy,” he stated.

The Crown Court at Southwark in the United Kingdom passed judgment 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 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.

The Office of the President, in this respect, 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.

A statement signed by Communications Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin stated that these investigations are expected to be conducted in collaboration with the United Kingdom authorities.

" . . President Akufo-Addo has taken notice of the judgment 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," the statement read.