Martin Kpebu, Private Legal Practitioner, has said he has an issue with the timing of the pursuit of the former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
He asked why the OSP waited for all this while to mow go after the former Minister.
“I have a challenge with the timing of the Ken Ofori – Atta pursuit. Why wait for all this while and go after the man when he is already out of the Country, ” Kpebu said on Key Point on TV3 Saturday February 15.
Meanwhile it has emerged that Lawyers of Mr Ken Ofori-Atta responded to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) officially informing them about the inability of the former Finance Minister to honour an invitation to be physically present for investigation into alleged corruption charges.
Ken Ofori-Atta is wanted by the OSP for cases being investigated including; the loss reduction contract between ECG and Beijing Jao, procurement over National Cathedral, contracts awarded by the Health Ministry to Service Ghana Auto Limited/Ambulances and the SML-GRA deal.
The OSP further emphasized that it would take all necessary measures to compel the former minister to appear and answer questions related to the investigations.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated that Ofori-Atta had repeatedly refused to honour invitations for questioning regarding ongoing investigations in which he is a suspect.
“Consequently, the OSP declares Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta a wanted person. He is a fugitive from the law,” Agyebeng announced.
A letter sighted by 3news from Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers said “We write as Solicitors for Kenneth Ofori–Atta in respect of the above subject and refer to your letter dated 24th January 2025. We are informed by our client that a letter dated 24:” day of January 2025 was left at our client’s security post for his attention. Our client had been out of the country and therefore not in his home in Ghana at the time.
“The said letter has been brought to our attention on the instructions of our client who is still out of Ghana. The said letter is inviting our client to attend in person at your offices on Monday 10″ February 2025 at 10am.”
It added that “Our client gave notice to the former Chief of Staff in early January and more recently to the current Chief of Staff of his trip outside the country on medical grounds. Our client is currently undergoing medical observation and tests culminating in medical decisions to be taken in due course as to the way forward with treatment. After that he will have a better idea of when he is able to proceed to Ghana
“We are therefore humbly bringing to your attention that we shall give you notice of his arrival in the country so as to reschedule your invitation to him for the purposes as stated in the heading of your letter under reference.
“We are however, able and willing to provide you with any information you may require to aid in your investigations until our client is back in the country for any in–person investigations outlined in the said letter.”
Referring to the content of the above quoted letter during his press conference, Mr Kissi Agyebeng said:
“The OSP is unconvinced that the purported medical letter transmitted by Mr. Ofori-Atta through his lawyers to the OSP represents a medical report to the effect that Mr. Ofori-Atta is incapacitated or is so sickly an invalid to the extent that he is physically unable to return to the jurisdiction without imperiling his life.
“No serious law enforcement agency would be convinced that the purported medical letter estops it from demanding the physical appearance of Mr. Ofori-Atta before it in the described circumstances. And certainly not the OSP.
We are of the firm conviction that it is only a ruse employed by Mr. Ofori-Atta in aid of his intention to avoid his return to the jurisdiction and to personally answer questions in respect of the investigations.”
The post I have an issue with OSP’s timing of Ofori-Atta pursuit – Kpebu first appeared on 3News.
