Deputy Health Minister Alexander Akwasi Acquah has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama over the report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) exonerating him from corruption in connection with the infamous Airbus saga.

The Special Prosecutor, in his investigative report, established that Mahama did not receive a bribe nor engage in any corrupt practice in relation to the purchase of three military aircraft from aerospace giant Airbus.

“The OSP found no evidentiary basis that suggests that former President John Dramani Mahama or any other public official was induced to improperly favour or did improperly favour Airbus in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus,” the OSP stated.

The OSP therefore cleared the former President and leader of the National Democratic Congress, saying, “The Special Prosecutor has directed the closure of the OSP investigation into the alleged bribery of high-ranking Ghanaian officials by Airbus SE, through intermediaries, in respect of the sale of military transport aircraft by Airbus SE to the Republic of Ghana between 2009 and 2015.”

But Alexander Akwasi Acquah, who doubles as MP for Akim Oda, finds the OSP's report inconclusive, stating that the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, is not a judge.

“OSP is a prosecutor, special prosecutor. He is not a judge, therefore cannot clear any person of wrongdoing,” he replied.

He explained on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show that the duty of Agyebeng is to investigate a matter and prosecute a person for wrongdoing; hence, he has no power to acquit anyone.

“It is only a court of competent jurisdiction,” he stressed, “that can determine whether or not Mahama is guilty of the accusations leveled against him in the Airbus scandal.”

He added that the issue is not over because, to him, what Ghanaians want to know is who the "Government Official 1" cited in the Airbus scandal is. So Mahama being identified as "Government Official 1" doesn't conclude the investigations, but rather, the matter is yet to begin as it will take a court to establish the truth.