Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has revealed how his side lost the debate in parliament when his side opposed the then government’s decision to purchase two Airbus C-295 aircrafts for the military under the Mills-Mahama government.
The then Minority Leader says his side, now in majority in parliament, feel vindicated that nine years after accusing government of engaging in a “daylight robbery” when it decided to purchase the aircrafts from Airbus.
The procurement of the aircrafts has been cited in a major bribery scandal involving the manufacturer, Airbus.
Though court documents from the UK Crown Court did not mention any names, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is pointing accusing fingers at former President Mahama.
In an exclusive interview with Ekosii Sen host, Philip Osei Bonsu, the then Minority leader said the position taken by his party was not far from the truth.
He indicated that when they lost the debate in Parliament and government got the clearance to buy the aircrafts through Majority approval, they cited Mr Mahama as a key player in the Airbus saga.
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The Minister for Parliamentary Affiars also cited how after checking the price of the aircraft from the website of the manufacturer, it emerged that the then government had inflated the price, to buttress his point.
“I went to the website of this company and saw the price…They had described the specifics of the aeroplanes and said the cost of the CASA, the new one as of 2011 was 25 million dollars and the government then came to say it was 32 million; not dollars but Euros,” he stated.
Hon. Kyei Mensah Bonsu said though the Majority had their way, he feels proud that they were able to oppose such a corrupt deal.
Story By: Adwoa Gyasiwaa Agyeman