The New Patriotic Party is accusing former president John Mahama of inflating the cost of an aircraft purchased during his tenure as president from $22m to €34.5m so he could benefit financially from the deal.
Relatives of the former president are implicated in an investigation into a corruption scandal that has shaken European aeronautics giant Airbus. The Airbus scandal is a real thorn in the side of Mr. Mahama who has made the fight against corruption a cornerstone issue in this year’s election when the NDC aired a video allegedly of President Akufo-Addo taking bribe from a woman.
The NPP has provided a counter video that shows the affair was a campaign donation instead of a bribery.
The incident was in October 2016 when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was in opposition and had no power to help the woman in the video secure her husband’s job as the NDC was alleging.
In fighting back, the NPP is bringing back the Airbus scandal to the front burner and has accused candidate Mahama of pushing through the deal in record time so he could benefit from the deal.
H.E. John Mahama has denied any wrongdoing.
Voters’ take
In spite of the accusations and counter-accusations, every poll conducted with respect to Election 2020 shows that voters do not care as much about corruption as was the case in 2016.
This time, the key issues for voters is the sustenance of Nana Akufo-Addo’s flagship policy, free SHS, healthcare, and the economy.
From the looks of it, the two major parties may be fighting over anti-corruption records as a matter of honor and not to win the minds of voters.
