The Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has explained why the party initially denied that former President John Dramani Mahama was the individual referred to as ‘Government Official 1’ in the Airbus bribery scandal.
According to Mr. Gyamfi, the NDC’s denial was rooted in their belief that Mr. Mahama was not corrupt, contrary to the narrative pushed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“The NPP falsely portrayed ‘Government Official 1’ as someone who had taken bribes. We couldn’t accept that label in isolation without addressing the entire context. We denied Mahama was ‘Government Official 1’ because we knew he was not corrupt, as the NPP tried to make it seem” he said.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 8, confirmed that Mahama was indeed the ‘Government Official 1’ referenced in UK court documents and ‘Individual 1’ in corresponding US court filings.
Despite this identification, the OSP found no evidence that Mahama was involved in any corrupt activities or received bribes during the transactions.
In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Friday, Mr. Gyamfi said they have been vindicated.
“According to NPP, Mahama took a bribe, but that was a lie. They sold the story that Mahama was ‘Government Official 1’ and took a bribe, but the OSP has now established that Mahama didn’t take any bribe. At the time, no one discussed the identity of ‘Government Official 1’ in a vacuum. We denied it because we knew Mahama doesn’t take bribes.”
Mr. Gyamfi said now, the OSP has identified him but noted that he acted with integrity.
“The NPP are having sleepless nights over this. Even today, they are spreading false news about Mahama because they cannot match his record. Ghanaians should give thanks to God because Mahama is incorruptible. He has gone through the fire of accountability, and he can hold Akufo-Addo and Bawumia to the same standard” he boasted.
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