Private legal practitioner, Lawyer Martin Kpebu, has weighed in on the ongoing debate about whether the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has the authority to declare a person wanted.
According to him, the matter is not up for debate, as the OSP Act clearly grants the office the necessary police powers.
Speaking on the issue, Mr. Kpebu emphasized that the OSP has the same powers as the Ghana Police Service when it comes to law enforcement.
“The OSP has the mandate to declare a person wanted. It is not subject to debate. The reason is that the OSP Act is very clear. The OSP has the police powers. The same powers that the Ghana Police Service has, the OSP also has,” he stated.
However, he noted that the key question to consider is not whether the OSP has the power but rather the procedure it followed in declaring an individual wanted.
His comments come in the wake of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s claim that the OSP declared him wanted without first obtaining a court order.
“In their second release, Ken Ofori-Atta is saying that the OSP declared him wanted without going to court. But I also hear the OSP say that they went to court for an arrest warrant. So it means that we may have to wait to see what evidence is given to the court, then we can judge who is right and who is wrong,” Mr. Kpebu explained.
Story by Freedom Lavoe
