Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has asked former President John Dramani Mahama to be bold and submit himself for investigations regarding the Airbus bribery scandal.
His comments come after Mr Mahama had challenged Mr Amidu to investigate and prosecute him if he is convinced that he was the one described as Government Official One in the Airbus bribery scandal.
Prior to the challenge, the Special Prosecutor had revealed in his observations on a corruption risk assessment report on the Agyapa Royalties deal that he submitted to the Office of the President on October 16, 2020 that “the only reason the former President [Mahama] has not been invited for interrogation (in spite of all threats from some of his followers and lawyers) is the fact that he got himself an insurance as the Presidential candidate of the other largest political party in Ghana”.
He added that “prudence dictated that the interrogation be held in abeyance during this election season”.
Reacting to this while interacting with students of the University of Ghana on Wednesday, November 4, an obviously livid John Mahama said: “Amidu goes and presents Agyapa investigations and I thought he was a man enough.
“They say investigate Agyapa, so present a report on Agyapa. If you have investigated Airbus present a report on Airbus.
“In the Agyapa report, you know that it is going to be damning of this government and so you go and put one paragraph there about airbus. Nobody asked you about Airbus.
“If you were man enough present Agyapa and do a report on Airbus separately and then I will come and answer you on Airbus. If you think I am indicted on accuse me directly .
“But because he is a coward and they knew Agyapa was going to be discussed today so he put a paragraph on Airbus to equalize the discussion. what stupidity is this?”
He added: “The point is you say I am the leader of a political party and I am also saying if you have a legal basis for investigating me go ahead and investigate me. “There has been a DPA, you are not a party to it, you don’t know who are involved in it, they have identified some people in it .
“You don’t have an authenticated agreement from SFO or from whoever is involved in it and you say ‘I surmise that Government Official One is this person or that person. On what legal basis are you proceeding?”
Replying the former President in a press release on Monday, Mr Amidu said: “Your Excellency, the wise and the brave former President John Dramani Mahama, man-up, wise-up, and be brave enough to come with two lawyers of your own choice to be cautioned and interrogated by this Office to demonstrate your valour and wisdom as not being the elected Government Official 1 and also as not being the first guarantor to Samuel Adam Mahama’s passport application”.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana