Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has raised concerns over the charges filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, former Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) bosses, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
His comments follow the OSP’s decision to file 78 charges against eight individuals in connection with the controversial revenue assurance contracts between the GRA and SML.
Those charged include former GRA Commissioners-General Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti, senior officials Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoa, former Finance Ministry Technical Advisor Ernest Akore, SML owner Evans Adusei, and SML itself.
The charges come after months of investigations during which the OSP said it uncovered alleged corruption, abuse of office, and procurement breaches in the award and execution of the contracts. Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has stated that evidence gathered “points to criminal conduct” during the negotiation, approval, and implementation stages.
However, speaking on Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Tuesday, November 18, Kpebu said he does not trust the Special Prosecutor’s ability to fully prosecute the former finance minister.
He claimed that Agyebeng’s past professional association with Ofori-Atta raises concerns about conflict of interest and questioned the relevance of some of the charges.
“Kissi Agyebeng allowed Ofori-Atta to escape, so I cannot trust him. If you look at some of the charges he has filed, he’s deliberately gambling with financial loss. Financial loss is not part of the OSP’s mandate.
“Now you’re going to use this case to gamble. If you get to the court and it says no, as for financial loss, it’s too huge. What are you going to do? Is it part of the ploy to gamble?
He added, “I don’t trust the charges at all. I cannot trust Kissi Agyebeng; he once worked for Ofori-Atta. Ofori-Atta is his formal client. Kissi worked for Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko. Same circle. Ask if Kissi Agyebeng ever attended a meeting with Ofori-Atta, and that man is going to prosecute Ofori-Atta, aaahbaai, what a joke.”
Read more…
SML scandal: OSP slaps 78 charges on Ofori-Atta, former GRA Bosses
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