Former Auditor General and prominent anti-corruption advocate, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has praised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for its commendable handling of the Airbus bribery scandal.

Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Domelevo lauded the OSP for conducting an independent and thorough investigation into the matter.

Domelevo highlighted the courage and integrity displayed by the OSP, particularly in maintaining its independence despite potential pressures.

He noted that it is common for public officials to feel compelled to align their actions with perceived preferences of the president when cases are referred by the presidency. However, Domelevo commended the OSP for resisting such pressures and delivering an impartial report.

“I was full of commendations for him [the Special Prosecutor] because especially when a request comes from the office of the president, public servants are likely to read between the lines in order to toe the line of the president or what they think the president wants or wanted, but I think he independently did his assessments or his investigations and came out with his report,” Domelevo remarked.

He acknowledged that while opinions on the report may vary among Ghanaians, the most important outcome is the OSP's commitment to transparency and independence.

“Some aspects of the report I think did not sit well with Ghanaians, some Ghanaians are very happy about the report but be it as it may, my happiness is that he has done his work independently and boldly come out with his findings…I think the OSP has done a good job,” Domelevo added.

The Airbus scandal, which came to light on January 31, 2020, involved allegations of bribery by the global aerospace company in multiple countries, including Ghana.

The scandal led to a historic £3 billion settlement by Airbus with France, the United Kingdom, and the United States to avoid corporate criminal charges.

In Ghana, President Akufo-Addo referred the matter to the OSP for investigation. The former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, had earlier identified John Mahama as "Government Official 1" in connection with the scandal, a claim Mahama denied, and no conclusive evidence was provided at that time.

Recently, the current Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, confirmed Mahama as "Government Official 1" in the ongoing investigation. Agyebeng also identified Samuel Mahama, the former president's brother, as "Intermediary 5" involved in the transactions.

The OSP however cleared Mr Mahama of any wrong doing due to lack of evidence.