OSP flew out to meet Samuel Mahama; same approach should apply to Ken Ofori-Atta – Baffour Awuah – Nsemkeka
The Manhyia South MP has urged the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to adopt a consistent approach in dealing with persons under investigation who are outside Ghana, including former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah said the OSP set a precedent when it flew outside the country to engage Samuel Adam Mahama over the Airbus scandal and should do the same for Ofori-Atta instead of using press conferences and public declarations.
Speaking on PM Express on Joy News Tuesday night, the MP pointed directly to the OSP’s own report.
“I would take a cue from the OSP’s own report in terms of how it handled the issue of the Airbus scandal,” he said.
“It stated there on page 14 of the report, where it said that when it became difficult to have Samuel Adam Mahama, the brother of the president, he flew out of Ghana to go and interview him outside of Ghana.”
He said that precedent cannot be ignored now that a similar situation has arisen.
“So on that score, there’s a precedent by the OSP in terms of how it deals with persons outside the country. And so in the circumstance, what should be the approach?” he asked.
Mr Baffour Awuah made it clear he supports the Special Prosecutor’s mission to fight corruption and serve the public interest.
“I am on the side of the Special Prosecutor because the Special Prosecutor works for the state and is fighting corruption,” he stated.
“So I would be concerned about a way forward for the Special Prosecutor.”
However, he strongly rejected the public spectacle surrounding Ofori-Atta’s case.
“The approach for me then will not be a press conference,” he said.
“The approach will be to adopt the same approach they adopted in the case of President Mahama’s brother, by writing to the lawyers to say that at this point it appears difficult for Ken Ofori-Atta to come to the Republic of Ghana.”
The MP emphasised that consistency in legal processes is not only about fairness but effectiveness.
“We want to go and interview outside of Ghana, give us his location,” he suggested. “Because we have done it before, we can do it again.”
He also dismissed any budgetary excuse.
“At the time it did it, it had a budget of GH¢149 million. This year, it has been given a budget of GH¢149 million. So within that same means, it should be possible for them to do it,” he argued.
The MP’s comments come as the public debate over the handling of Ken Ofori-Atta’s summons by the OSP intensifies.
Some have accused the former minister of evading justice, while others say the state’s tone is inflammatory.
For Baffour Awuah, the priority must be justice, not drama. “I would rather want to see the OSP make progress,” he concluded.