OSP Treating Ken Ofori-Atta Like a ‘Common Criminal’ – Kwabena Agyapong Laments
Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, has strongly criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over its handling of the ongoing investigation involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
In an interview with Citi FM on Tuesday, June 3, Mr. Agyapong expressed concern over what he described as the disrespectful and prejudicial manner in which the former minister is being treated.
“The way he [the Special Prosecutor] is going about it, treating him [Ofori-Atta] as if he is a common thief—there has not been any proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Agyapong stated.
He condemned what he views as a prosecutorial overreach and urged the OSP to follow due legal processes.
“We shouldn’t encourage such behaviour because it’s simply not right. The first step should be to go to a court of law and establish a proper prosecution if he believes the evidence is strong enough.”
Mr. Agyapong called on civil society organisations to speak out against what he sees as an alarming pattern of disregard for due process and individual rights.
His comments come in the wake of the OSP’s decision to declare Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, after he failed to return to Ghana by the stipulated June 2 deadline to respond to charges related to alleged corruption and abuse of office.
The OSP maintains that it has made multiple efforts to engage Mr. Ofori-Atta, but has been met with what it describes as non-cooperation, including the failure to provide official medical documentation to support his continued absence from the country.
Mr. Agyapong, however, insists that while the OSP has a mandate to investigate public officials, it must do so within the confines of the law, without compromising the dignity and rights of individuals under investigation.
“No matter the allegations, people deserve to be treated with fairness and respect. The rule of law must be upheld at all times,” he concluded.
Credit: Albert Kuzor
