Private legal practitioner Yaw Dankwah has weighed in on the ongoing legal matters surrounding former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who was recently declared a wanted person by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Speaking on ABC News GH, Dankwah argued that the declaration does not imply guilt, emphasizing that “if he has been declared wanted, it does not mean he has committed an offense.”
He stressed the importance of handling criminal cases with due process, particularly given the stature of the individual involved.
In response to the OSP’s decision to publicly announce Ofori-Atta as a fugitive, Dankwah dismissed suggestions that the case should have been handled more diplomatically.
He stated, “There is nothing called handling criminal cases diplomatically. We are all equal before the law.”
The OSP’s move follows Ken Ofori-Atta’s repeated refusal to attend questioning related to several high-profile investigations, including his involvement in the National Cathedral project, the SML-GRA deal, and other government contracts.
Although his lawyers claim he is out of the country for medical reasons, the OSP has made it clear that they are committed to taking all necessary actions to ensure he returns and answers questions regarding the ongoing investigations.
The legal expert also criticized the Attorney General dropping over seven high profile cases, warning that it could fuel perceptions that prosecutions in Ghana are politically motivated.
He called for the OSP to clarify the evidence behind their actions to restore confidence in the justice system.
“They need to be clear why those actions were taken, though they are lawfully mandated,” he said.
