A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana has warned the special prosecutor not to be “in a hurry to please anyone” because his office is not independent of politicians’ control. Kissi Agyebeng needed to reduce the youthful exuberance of carrying out his responsibilities said Professor Ransford Yaw Gyampo said
His comments, at the invitation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), led to the arrest of Professor Frimpong Boateng for his reporting on the dissolution of the Interministerial Commission on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
The famous surgeon has since been released on bail with the amount of CHU 2 million.
But expressing some concerns, Prof Gyampo said the arrest of the former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation was disrespectful and unnecessary.
“The special counsel has every right to invite Professor Frimpong Boateng to help shed some light on some of the issues raised in his report, which he never made public but submitted privately to the President.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo: Special prosecutor must not be in a hurry to please anyone
“Indeed, he may be invited to participate in the investigation but he cannot be arrested without being charged. This is disrespectful and shows unnecessary power and harassment towards Professor Frimpong Boateng.
He emphasized that although he is not a lawyer, They should not have arrested Mr. Frimpong-Boateng without been charged.
“We are not against the galamsey by harassing those who expose it, Special Counsel,” he said.
Teacher. Gyampo added that an earlier recommendation had been made to an independent prosecutor who “wouldn’t be in the shadow of a partisan attorney general”, but that the recommendation was rather insider by the government and OSP ignore.
Background
In a report presented to the president in March 2021, which is now publicly available, Professor Frimpong-Boateng mentioned dozens of people in the administration led by Akufo-Addo, as well as party majors. , is complicit in illegal and offensive mining. the President’s efforts to counter the threat. However, the President and several people mentioned in the report denied the report.
Government appointees and NPP bigwigs mentioned in the report denied the allegations including Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; chief executive officer during the presidency, Lord Commey, and a leading member of the NPP, Gabby Otchere-Darko. This led to numerous calls to the Office of the Special Counsel to investigate the case.
In a press release signed and dated May 2, 2023, the special prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, acknowledged calls from the public and civil society organizations and said that Mr. Frimpong-Boateng would invited to participate in the surveys. “The OSP welcomes calls to action and investigation, and assures the public and civil society that its investigation is wide-ranging and also covers the issues raised in the report.
” Report issued by the head of the disbanded IMCIM,” reads the press release.
