The Special Prosecutor’s clearance of John Dramani Mahama from any wrongdoing in the Airbus scandal has triggered divided reactions among supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on social media, with both sets of supporters having a go at each other.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, August 8, 2024, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, suggested that the scandal was birthed to ruin the reputation of former President John Dramani Mahama, noting that his name in the scandal served as the air that flamed it.
Kissi Agyebeng stated that after investigating the scandal, his office found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of John Mahama and that his only connection to the deal is his brother Samuel Adam Mahama, who was identified as Intermediary 5 in the scandal.
"The OSP investigation found no evidence that former President Mahama was involved or played any role in the procurement and maintenance of the agency relationship between Airbus and Foster and his associates in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus. And it appears to the OSP that the direct communications and meetings between former President Mahama and officials of Airbus to close the deal were actuated by good intentions on the part of the former," said Agyebeng.
"The OSP found no evidence that suggests that the involvement of Foster as an intermediary of Airbus and the direct communications and meetings between former President Mahama and officials of Airbus to close the deal between Airbus and the Government of Ghana amounted to any corruption and corruption-related offence in respect of which the OSP has a mandate," he said.
The report by the Special Prosecutor has generated diverse opinions on social media, with the political affiliations of the tweeps being apparent in their tweets.
While sympathizers of the NDC claim victory and vindication for John Mahama and the NDC, members on the NPP side believe that he was corrupt and that the OSP did not investigate the issue properly.
TWI NEWS
Read the reactions below
OSP! Such thoroughness! John Dramani Mahama is exonerated as there is no evidence of corruption in the Airbus scandal!
— Franklin CUDJOE (@lordcudjoe) August 8, 2024
AIRBUS, we know a few things:
— Justice Srem-Sai (@JusticeSremSai) August 8, 2024
(1) We know that it was President Akufo Addo, himself, who accused JM of receiving bribe from Airbus SE - he personally instructed his Secretary (his relative) to file a criminal complaint at the OSP.
(2) We also know that his complaint was based…
🚨Airbus nonsense against President Mahama has been thrown out by NPP &Addo D’s Special prosecutor
— Listowel Mensah (@Listo_Mens) August 8, 2024
After today we don't want to hear that story again! pic.twitter.com/9FMbbfhSKZ
President John Mahama is incorruptible. Allegations of underhand dealing in the Airbus Scandal were nothing but a compendium of speculations, amorphous personalities, nebulous innuendos, and insinuations as my Boss Sammy Gyamfi has always maintained. A win for accountability! pic.twitter.com/RGAQnCIPW0
— Mr. Ray 🇬🇭 (@TheEdemTamekloe) August 8, 2024
John Mahama has a good heart for Ama Ghana. The Airbus scandal didnt only exonerated him of any crime but also applauded him.
— Gideon (@Dejoh36) August 8, 2024
pic.twitter.com/yoK9nyZJxp
This airbus thing was much ado about nothing? Seems like an emphatic clearance of the former president of any wrongdoing pic.twitter.com/F6NP7WXzBi
— Komla Kekessie (@Akorasey) August 8, 2024
The OSP has exonerated John Mahama and his full blood brother from the Airbus Scandal imposed on them by the Npp. Now let’s hear what those bots have to say. Clowns. They always want to be tagged as such. pic.twitter.com/Q1vkh7WWKF
— Listowell (@Berima_listowel) August 8, 2024
So both UK and US courts made very definitive pronouncements that there was bribery involved in the Airbus scandal, yet Ghana's special prosecutor found no evidence of bribery? Even though Airbus engaged the former prez’s brother, who had no experience in the aviation sector?
— Alfred (@CallmeAlfredo) August 8, 2024
NPP MP Lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi says the OSP did a bad job on the airbus scandal? The man who shielded a businessman engaged in bribing some MPs? Smh🙄
— General Marcus! (@marcusadampah) August 8, 2024
OSP names John Dramani Mahama as not the Government Official involved in the Airbus scandal.
— 𝕏 Africa (@mcsoul9) August 8, 2024
They won’t prosecute anybody, Mahama will also do same
NPP NDC must Go now. Ghana 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/eaft7ObF9t
Now that the OSP has identified former President Mahama as Government Official 1, here are the key details of the Airbus scandal you should be aware of. pic.twitter.com/JVBfGXhwHz
— NanaYhaw (@NanaDarko__) August 8, 2024
Breaking News;
— General Marcus! (@marcusadampah) August 8, 2024
Akufo-Addo has directed his AG Godfred Dame to prosecute the airbus scandal in the Supreme Court.
EK
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