Fixing the Country Movement has written to former President John Dramani Mahama officially informing him of their planned picketing at his office on Thursday 16th, November 2023 over the Airbus Scandal.
According to the letter signed by the Convenor of the movement, they “have been on the heels of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for urgent action on the Airbus SE corruption which the name of the former president featured prominently.”
The group thus notified the president of the date for their picketing at his office.
“Your Excellency, I write on behalf of the Fixing The Country Movement to officially bring to your attention that we intend to picket at your good office on Thursday 16th, November 2023 at exactly 10 am.”
Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah
The group further indicated that “the European aircraft manufacturer has admitted paying bribes in Ghana when it sold three military aircraft to the country dating back to 2009 -2015” when Mr. Mahama was the president of the country.
They further alleged that the company from which the aircraft was purchased also admitted hiring the brother of the former President, Adam Mahama as its consultant in the sale of the aircraft.
According to the letter, “€35 million involved in the purchase of the aircraft as at the time was equivalent to $40 million”. The letter expressed concerns about “why Ghana should spend $40 million to buy an aircraft that was selling at $25 million on the market.”
The letter also referred to certain “core details of the series of court documents published by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the United States and the Serious Fraud Office, (SFO) of the United Kingdom” which affirmed their allegations could not be ignored having brought Ghana into international shame over the scandal.
The letter further alleged that government official 1 codenamed in the said US court documents is no other person than the former President, John Dramani Mahama.
Fixing The Country Trust Ghana’s Investigative Bodies
Again, the movement expressed trust in the capacity of Ghana’s investigative bodies to take up the case, however expressing their disappointment in the lagging attitude so far.
“Whereas we do not doubt the competence of our investigative authorities to get to the bottom of this massive international corruption, we’re not enthused at the nonchalant attitude being deployed on the Airbus corruption – Hence, our petition to the OSP.”
Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah
Furthermore, the letter emphasized that the investigations would help the former president who is rerunning for the high office again to clear himself of such doubts among the citizenry.
Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah
“We are also fortified by the knowledge that as a former president, and someone running for office again, you will avail yourself soon to clear the air on the Airbus corruption. Indeed, you owe it to the good people of Ghana who reposed their confidence in you as president for 4 years.”
Convener of Fixing the Country Movement, Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah, announced that the movement will go ahead with its picketing at former President John Dramani Mahama’s office, the US Embassy, and British High Commission if investigative agencies do not take up the Airbus Scandal by November 16, 2023.
This came after strong opposition from staunch members of the NDC when it was first announced. These included Honorable Samuel Nartey George, and Amos Blessing Amorse, amongst others. The group has since, gone ahead to secure an agreement with the police for its planned protest against the former president. According to the group, they believe former President Mahama’s culpability in the corruption case as established by admissions and supporting court documents from the US and UK.
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