The Presidency is not interfering in the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Minister of State in charge of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu has said.
He described recent claims suggesting otherwise as unfounded and lacking factual basis.
His comments come after some civil society actors, including Senyo Hosi, accused government of stifling the OSP. The groups warned that such actions could have political repercussions if not addressed.
But speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, April 23, Mr Kwakye Ofosu rejected the claims. He said the President plays no role in a current court case questioning the OSP’s prosecutorial powers.
“The OSP is prosecuting a Ghanaian. That Ghanaian goes to court, a court of competent jurisdiction, and challenges the authority of the OSP to prosecute. To say that, according to law, the OSP requires authorisation from the AG to prosecute,” he said.
“A court independently concludes that the applicant’s position is right and therefore orders a specific action to be taken. How does CSO then conclude that the President has anything to do with this matter when government is not a part of this particular matter?” he asked.
He said President John Dramani Mahama has consistently backed the OSP. As evidence, he pointed to the President’s intervention when a bill seeking to repeal the OSP Act was introduced in Parliament.
“The President said the OSP needs to be given time and space to operate. So there is no doubt about his commitment to its success,” he stated.
Responding to criticism that the Attorney-General sided with the private citizen in court, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said every citizen has a right to test the law, and the A-G must respond to legal issues raised.
He urged CSOs to ground their commentary in “truth, fact, logic and law,” arguing it was misleading to link the President to a case government is not involved in.
The Minister added that the matter is still before the courts and should be allowed to proceed, stressing that the President’s support for the OSP remains unchanged.