The vociferous National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, is accusing the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (A-G) of deliberately sidelining the Office of the Special Prosecutor in the case of the Republic of Ghana versus Opuni and two others.
In the view of Adongo, the blatant refusal of the A-G to refer the case of Opuni and two others to the Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute, is a clear case of political witch hunting, stressing that with Martin Amidu, there wouldn’t have been any noise from the NDC since they know what he stands for.
Interacting with Accra-based local radio station, Okay FM, Monday, the Bolgatanga lawmaker expressed worry that the set up of the Office of the Special Prosecutor was a waste of the tax payer’s money.
He does not see the reason why the country will set up the Office of the Special Prosecutor and sideline it when corruption related matters are supposes to be referred to it for prosecution.
“If they will pass a Bill and will not use it, they shouldn’t waste our time and the tax payer’s money”, he fumed.
He also does not understand why the A-G would want to go ahead and prosecute Opuni and two others by herself when the country has Police Prosecutors who are well trained to handle such assignments.
To him, the Office of the Special Prosecutor would do a good job devoid of any political hunting to assuage the fears of Ghanaians.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor Act (Act 959) seeks to investigate specific cases of corruption involving public officers and politically exposed persons in the performance of their functions as well as persons in the private sector implicated in the Commission of corruption.
It is also meant to prosecute offences on the authority of the Attorney-General and provide for related matters and as well recover the proceeds of corruption and corruption related offences.
Commenting on the issue, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso South and Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Ben Abdallah Banda, directed Adongo to abreast himself with the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act (Act 959) very well before making any pronouncement of the matter.
He said the A-G being the Chief Prosecutor of all cases has the right to prosecute offenders of the law without referring such cases to anybody or institution.
He wondered why Adongo will make a case of political witch hunting the case of the Republic versus Opuni and two others when he (Adongo) who was part of the previous government is freely walking on the streets of Ghana.
That notwithstanding, he said the investigations into Opuni’s case started long ago before setting up of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the subsequent appointment of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor.
Therefore, the A-G’s handling of Opuni’s case was apt, but added that in the wisdom of Madam Gloria Akufo, she could still refer the case to the Special Prosecutor to handle.