Ghana indeed lost money in the Airbus bribery scandal – Manasseh gives more details

Freelance investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has debunked assertions that Ghana lost no money in the purchase of three aircrafts for the military in which, Airbus SE, the plane maker has confessed to having engaged agents and intermediaries in order to secure the deals with the Government of Ghana.

Former Presidential staffer Stan Dogbe has suggested that Ghana lost no money in the purchase of the aircraft for the military, wondering why President Akufo-Addo has been swift with ordering an investigation into the scandal while other scandals have not been investigated.

But Manasseh Azure Awuni has disagreed, explaining that monies paid to agents and intermediaries get added to the prices that companies eventually cost their products.

“It is wrong to conclude that Ghana did not lose any money in this transaction. The needless fees and costs charged by the equally needless “goro” men and women (agents and intermediaries) are often factored into the cost of the contract. Airbus is not a philanthropic organisation to decide to give away 5 MILLION EUROS to an agent related to a decision maker in this transaction,” he argued in a post sighted by MyNewsGh.com

He is of the view that any attempt to lessen the seriousness of the scandal by comparing it with other scandals is a bad defence even as he admits worse forms of corruption have happened, are happening in Government.

“Trying to downplay this comparing with other scandals is not a good defence either. Worse forms of stealing have happened are still happening in government transactions, but that does not make this stinking and shameful revelation any less evil,” he argued further.