Former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), lawyer Obiri Boahen, has slammed Freddie Blay, the party’s former Chairman, for representing four foreign nationals facing charges of illegal mining.
He stated that the lawyer’s decision will send the wrong signals to Ghanaians.
Mr. Freddie Blay, former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), sees nothing wrong with his law firm representing some Chinese nationals on trial alongside En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang, for illegal mining offences.
Mr. Blay believes that it is his firm’s responsibility to represent people who they believe are innocent of the charges brought against them.
“They came to instruct us,” he continued, “and we as professionals have sworn an oath to defend our clients to the best of our knowledge and ability, and that is exactly what we are doing in accordance with the Constitution of this country.”
Responding to this, Nana Obiri Boahen, a private legal practitioner, hinted that Mr Freddie Blay’s move was not the best because as a lawyer, you are not required to take any case.
Lawyer Boahen noted that by the action of the former NPP chair, Ghanaians would conclude that some top state officials are involved in the illegal mining saga.
“This is my personal opinion,” he said. As a lawyer, you do not accept every case. People will form negative opinions about you if you do not take care of yourself. As a former NPP chair, we have people on trial for illegal mining, and you are representing them in court. Although one is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Freddie Blay’s actions are unethical and unwise.
Take a look at the situation we’re in now that the NPP is in power. The prosecutor is the Attorney-General, who represents the state, and the accused are represented by a former national chairman of the NPP. That is not ideal. What message and signal are you sending? Ghanaians will claim that the government is mired in galamsey.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
