AfriPulse
The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has urged the state to proceed with any legal action against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, if it believes there is a credible case against him.
Mr Ahiagbah argued that Mr Ofori-Atta is not obstructing any legal processes and that the government does not need his physical presence in Ghana to advance prosecution.
His comments follow recent disclosures by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, that Mr Ofori-Atta had overstayed his United States visa, which was subsequently revoked by American authorities. Dr Ayine explained that the revocation was a deliberate decision linked to ongoing investigations and not a routine immigration matter, stressing that accountability processes involving the former minister remain active.
However, speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, Mr Ahiagbah accused the government of attempting to sensationalise the matter by insisting on Mr Ofori-Atta’s return to Ghana.TV Networks & Stations
He contended that the former Finance Minister had not committed any offence that would justify compelling him to return to the country, particularly when legal proceedings could be conducted in his absence. Mr Ahiagbah added that Mr Ofori-Atta’s inability to return to Ghana is due to health challenges, for which evidence has been provided, and should not delay any legal action the state intends to pursue.
Maintaining that the focus should be on the substance of the case rather than the former minister’s whereabouts, Mr Ahiagbah said:TV & Video
“Ken Ofori-Atta has not broken any law. There’s a need for him to come and answer questions. What we know to be the difficulty is that he’s not in good health. Evidence of that is adduced. Now, the government wants to proceed with some charges against him. And the idea is that you still advance without necessarily bringing him here. Ken Ofori-Atta is not stopping anything in terms of legal processes against him.
“So, I don’t see why there should be any hesitation or cry about Ken Ofori-Atta not being in the country. You can deal with the matter. Why is the government not dealing with the matter? They want to sensationalise it, make it about his presence when it doesn’t have to be about his presence; you can proceed. I don’t see the meat of the matter. If you have a charge, proceed,” he argued.
Mr Ahiagbah further stated that should Mr Ofori-Atta eventually be convicted, the state could then require him to return to Ghana to serve any sentence imposed by the court.
“If you convict him, then all of us can say come and serve your sentence. But now, you have nothing against him,” he added.
Source: TheGhanaReport | Read the Full Story…
