The Office of the Special Prosecutor has concluded its inquiry into claims that Airbus SE intermediaries bribed top Ghanaian officials to secure a contract for military aircraft supply between 2009 and 2015, bringing the investigation to a close.
At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng announced that the investigation found no evidence of bribery involving former President John Mahama and other individuals implicated in the Airbus aircraft purchase deal, effectively clearing them of any wrongdoing.
Between 2009 and 2015, the Government of Ghana and Airbus SE, a European aerospace corporation, finalized deals leading to the acquisition of three military planes by Ghana.
The purchase process was marred by accusations that middlemen representing the aircraft manufacturer, Airbus SE, engaged in bribery, prompting an investigation into the procurement process.
The investigation implicated former President John Mahama, his brother Samuel Adam Mahama, and several others in alleged wrongdoing, casting a shadow of suspicion over their involvement in the aircraft purchase deal.
Mr. Agyebeng, presenting a report on the investigation, said that the OSP “would not institute criminal proceedings” against any person in connection with the probe.
He said that there was no proof that Mr. Mahama or other officials were “induced” to select Airbus for the aircraft deal.
“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.
“Also, the OSP found no evidentiary basis that suggests that Samuel Adam Foster (also known as Samuel Adam Mahama), Philip Sean Middlemiss, and Leanne Sarah Davis received payments from Airbus with the intention of bribing former President John Dramani Mahama or any other public official,” the Special Prosecutor noted.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng announced that arrest warrants for four individuals – Samuel Adam Foster, Philip Sean Middlemiss, Leanne Sarah Davis, and Sarah Furneaux – have been withdrawn.
He noted that the OSP’s investigation, which spanned from February 2020 to June 2024, targeted individuals identified by US and UK investigative bodies and courts, but ultimately found no grounds for their prosecution.
He mentioned that former President Mahama, who was described “Government Official 1” by the UK court and “Individual 1” by the US court, was interviewed by the OSP on January 5, 2024, in Accra.
According to the OSP, Mr. Mahama stated, among other things during the interview, that “he never received any bribe or inducement or gained any personal benefit or advantage from the procurement of the aircraft for Ghana.”
The OSP added that “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 Mr. Mahama.
The OSP announced that it has requested INTERPOL to cancel the international arrest warrants, known as “Red Notices”, for Samuel Adam Foster, Philip Sean Middlemiss, Leanne Sarah Davis, and Sarah Furneaux, effective August 8, 2024.
