Former Attorney General in the Kufuor administration, Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has advised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Kissi Agyebeng to pursue legal appeals rather than resorting to press conferences to criticize judges’ dismissive rulings in corruption cases.
His remarks follow the OSP’s recent expression of concern regarding the increasing occurrence of such rulings, potentially hindering the fight against corruption.
During a media address on Wednesday, November 29, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng voiced alarm at the “growing hasty dismissiveness and lack of regard” for corruption cases, which he believes could impede the OSP’s ability to fulfill its mandate.
Agyebeng highlighted specific cases, including the acquittal of Cecilia Dapaah, a former government official, in a corruption case, and the court’s refusal to freeze the estate of former NPP General Secretary Kojo Owusu Afriyie, despite corruption allegations.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Mr. Ayikoi Otoo stated, “To me, I do not think that it is necessary for him to lament and to hold press conferences. I mean when a lawyer goes to court and he loses a case, if you believe strongly that the judges committed errors in coming to that conclusion, all you need to do is to file an appeal.”
He added, “To me, I do not think that it is necessary for him to lament and to hold press conferences. I mean when a lawyer goes to court and he loses a case, if you believe strongly that the judges committed errors in coming to that conclusion, all you need to do is to file an appeal.”
“He (Special Prosecutor) is completely wrong, he should have done that…Instead of going on appeal, you sit and cry to a press. What does he want the press to do for him? That is very disappointing on his part.”
Meanwhile, during parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin remarked that the law establishing the OSP was an act of futility.