Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Evans Annang
Published on 2024-01-26 16:52:03
The former legislator expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of independence of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in prosecuting cases. He highlighted that the Attorney-General’s involvement in prosecuting cases after the OSP and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) complete their investigations undermines the purpose for which the OSP was created.
In reference to the 2016 manifesto of the NPP, the legislator emphasized that the primary reason for establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor was to address the public perception that the Attorney-General would not prosecute his own people. However, the recent handling of the Cecilia Dapaah matter, which was handed over to EOCO, raised concerns about the OSP’s inability to operate independently.
In a conversation with Alfred Ocansey on Ghana Tonight, the former legislator criticized the fact that despite significant resources being invested in creating the OSP to ensure independence from the Attorney-General’s interference and manipulation, the Attorney-General is still responsible for prosecuting cases. He described the situation as unfortunate and questioned the purpose of establishing the OSP if the Attorney-General would ultimately have the authority to prosecute cases.
The former legislator’s comments echo similar sentiments expressed by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who also raised concerns about the OSP’s inability to fulfill its intended purpose in prosecuting corruption cases.
The legislator reiterated that the NPP’s 2016 manifesto explicitly emphasized the incapacity of the Attorney-General to prosecute members of the ruling government due to their position as a cabinet member. The establishment of the OSP was meant to address this limitation and prevent any interference from the Attorney-General in prosecuting corruption cases.
In summary, the former legislator’s remarks highlight the disappointment in the failure of the OSP to function independently and prosecute cases as originally envisioned, raising significant questions about the effectiveness and purpose of the Office.
Read the original article on Pulse
