The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), led by Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, has officially confirmed that "Government Official 1" and "Individual 1" in an ongoing investigation are indeed former President John Dramani Mahama.

This identification has been corroborated by authorities in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Mr Kissi Agyebeng made this revelation at a press conference in Accra on the controversial Airbus scandal.  

Additionally, the OSP has confirmed that "Intermediary 5" in the same investigation is Adam Mahama, a sibling of the former president.

This revelation adds a new layer to the case, linking the former president and his family to the individuals previously referred to by these aliases in the investigation by internationally reputable firms.

Background

Ghana purchased three C295 military aircraft from Airbus between 2011 and 2015 as part of a plan to modernize its Air Force, with funding sourced from loans approved by Parliament. The deals, however, were criticized by the opposition as non-transparent and overpriced.

A ruling by England’s Crown Court reignited concerns about corruption in these deals. The court approved a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) between the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Airbus after investigations revealed that Airbus engaged in bribery schemes to secure contracts, including in Ghana.

The court found that Airbus officials had agreed to bribe intermediaries linked to a high-ranking Ghanaian official involved in the aircraft purchases.

The DPA does not grant Airbus immunity from prosecution, and ongoing investigations could have led to criminal charges against those who paid or received bribes.

The case raised concerns over the integrity of Ghana's military procurement processes and the involvement of intermediaries in securing these deals.