Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, recently made a statement regarding the law governing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). According to him, the law does not permit the OSP to refer cases to be investigated by relevant authorities. Instead, the OSP is authorised to request cases from other relevant bodies, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).
This statement comes in the wake of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) accusing former President John Dramani Mahama of corruption in relation to the Airbus scandal, which involved the procurement of aircraft for the Ghana Armed Forces. The case was referred to the OSP in September 2020 to investigate possible conflicts of interest, bribery, and corruption. After a four-year investigation, the OSP cleared John Mahama, his brother Adams Foster Mahama, and others of any wrongdoing.
However, the NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs, Gary Nimako, suggested that the matter should still be investigated by other bodies. He pointed to then-Vice President Mahama’s decision to close a government procurement deal with a company that engages his brother as an agent as a potential conflict of interest that should be looked into by relevant authorities.
In response to this suggestion, Inusah Fuseini disagreed with Nimako’s stance. He emphasized that the law governing the OSP does not allow for cases to be referred to other institutions if the OSP concludes that its jurisdiction in the matter has not been properly evoked. He also stated that he would have been shocked if the OSP arrived at a different conclusion after their investigation.
On the other hand, Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Haruna Mohammed, expressed satisfaction with the OSP’s investigation, which identified former President John Mahama as „Government Official 1“ in the Airbus bribery scandal. Mohammed stated that this confirmation has strengthened the NPP’s case and emphasized that „crime has no expiring date,“ indicating that the case can be pursued at any time. He mentioned that the NPP’s lawyers will review the OSP’s report and that the party is content with the identification of John Mahama as „Government Official 1.“
In conclusion, the debate surrounding the OSP’s investigation into the Airbus scandal and the involvement of former President John Mahama continues to be a contentious issue. While the OSP has cleared Mahama and others of any wrongdoing, the NPP maintains that the matter should be further investigated by relevant authorities. The differing opinions on this matter highlight the complexities of corruption allegations and the importance of thorough investigations to uncover the truth.