The NPP National 1st Vice Chairman, Danquah Smith Buttey, has publicly accused the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Adjabeng, of corruption and of being a sympathiser of the opposition party NDC.
These allegations arise in response to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) clearing former President John Dramani Mahama of any involvement in corrupt practices related to the purchase of three military aircraft from Airbus.
In a comprehensive investigative report, the OSP concluded that former President Mahama did not receive bribes or engage in any corrupt activities during the aircraft purchase negotiations between 2009 and 2015.
The report also stated that neither Mahama nor any public officials involved used their high offices for corrupt practices.
Additionally, the OSP found no evidence implicating Samuel Adam Mahama, the former President’s brother and an agent in the deal, in obtaining favours or acting as a conduit for bribes.
“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 report stated.
However, in a phone interview on the Hot Morning Drive with Kwabena Prah monitored by Puretvonline.com, Chairman Smith Buttey expressed strong dissent.
He accused the OSP of corruption, suggesting that the Special Prosecutor had received a bribe from former President Mahama.
Smith Buttey argued that the investigation was flawed from the outset because Mahama was not summoned to give a statement before the probe was launched.
“The OSP should have invited John Dramani Mahama to his office and then written his statement before launching an investigation, but he didn’t,” Smith Buttey asserted.
He also criticised the OSP for not referring the findings to the court for a final verdict, emphasising the public interest in the Airbus issue and the necessity for a thorough investigation rather than a rushed conclusion.
Smith Buttey further accused the Special Prosecutor of harbouring sympathies for the NDC, casting doubt on the impartiality of the investigation and its conclusions.