The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has voiced concern with dismissive rulings in corruption cases.
According to Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, this might have serious ramifications for the country’s anti-corruption operations.
In a news conference on Wednesday, November 29, he stated that there is a “growing hasty dismissiveness and lack of regard” for corruption charges, which he feels will seriously impair the OSP’s capacity to carry out its mandate.
He cited four specific examples, including the acquittal of Cecilia Dapaah, a former government official, in a corruption case, and the refusal of a court order to freeze the estate of former NPP General Secretary, Kojo Owusu Afriyie, despite mounting corruption allegations against his estate.
According to Mr. Agyebeng, these cases raise serious concerns about the judicial system’s commitment to maintaining the rule of law and combating corruption.
If this trend continues, he warns, it will create an atmosphere of impunity that will be impossible to change.
“Indeed I have had several calls from well-meaning lawyers admonishing me that they have heard talk that our friends who have been elevated to the bench and presiding over cases in court do not take very kindly to criticism, especially of the public calling out variety as we do.
“And that if the office persists in the media releases, the judges will gang up against the office and throw out all our cases. Mind you, members of the press, collective admonishing is from very senior and experienced lawyers who are members of the law. Members of the press, my learning of the law for the past 25 years in three different jurisdictions, my teaching and training of lawyers and law students for the past 17 years, my 20-year record at the bar all bear testimony that I will be the last person to lead an institution to attack the judiciary.
“It will be absolutely of no good should it be the case that the OSP is set against the judiciary or that the judiciary is against the OSP. That will surely spell disastrous consequences for this republic, especially in the fight against corruption to the glee of corrupt persons.”
“I do not intend to sound as though I’m predicting doom but we are facing doom. With this development, it will not be long, [before] a suspected murderer or armed robber will boldly walk to court with the unthinkable prayer that the court should injunct law enforcement agencies from investigating him.”
By: Rainbowradionline.com/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
