The planned picketing of members of the pro-government pressure group, Fixing the Country Movement to his office over the Airbus saga which has since been suspended was an attempt to divert attention from the mismanagement of the economy, the office of former President John Dramani Mahama has said.
The National Security Minister intervened and advised against the planned demonstration due to security considerations.
The Office of former President John Mahama expressed gratitude to the Greater Accra NDC youth wing for their unflinching solidarity and support.
A statement issued by an aide of former President Joyce Bawah Mogtari said the Former President John Dramani Mahama thanked the youth of the party for their commitment to defending his strong and incorruptible character.
“‘[Weldone] to the young people including women who converged at the Cantonments office on Thursday to solidarise with John Mahama in the face of what was a misguided attempt by elements sponsored by the leadership of the NPP to picket around the office.
“Mr. Mahama also notes that the Ministry of National Security decided to intervene and stop the advertised picketing.”
The statement added “It is most regrettable that amid the excruciating hardship and the suffering brought upon Ghanaians by the NPP government, they would rather find it necessary to dabble in bizarre and inexplicable antics over a so-called Airbus matter, which has long been laid to rest and over which Mr. Mahama has absolutely no questions to answer. The needless aborted picketing was clearly designed to divert attention from the mismanagement of the economy, the public’s frustration with hunger and high costs of living, and the citizenry’s anger with the daily reports and evidence of high-level corruption sanctioned by the Presidency.
“It must be placed on record that Mr. Mahama has never been accused of, or investigated for, any involvement or wrongdoing of any sort by either the UK or US authorities in relation to Airbus. Indeed, neither the Ghanaian government nor any other authority anywhere in the world has any evidence of wrongdoing against him.
“The Serious Fraud Office of the United Kingdom has long announced their discontinuation of the Airbus case due to lack of evidence. It is also a matter of record that there has been no breach of Ghana’s procurement laws or any other law in the processes leading to the purchase of the aircrafts under reference. It has also been revealed that due to the competent negotiations by officials of the Ghana Armed Forces’ Technical Negotiating Team, the aircrafts were purchased at a price lower than the prevailing market price at the time.
“Mr. Mahama will obviously not be distracted by the NPP or any political shenanigans. He remains focused on engaging the people of Ghana on his plans to revitalise the economy to create more opportunities and decent well-paying jobs in a 24-hour economy for the youth and the Ghanaian people.
“He is also poised to carry out far reaching governance including anti-corruption and constitutional reforms to meet the aspirations and expectations of Ghanaians.”