The recent arrest of Martin Kpebu by the Office of the Special Prosecutor of Ghana is without any legal justification, and I trust Martin Kpebu will legally thrust that out with him fiercely. Clearly, if Martin Kpebu makes allegations against the SP and/or his Office, he can report to an independent institution to deal with it or consider a private action - defamation suit. He, obviously, cannot be a judge in his own case. This is a basic legal maxim of natural justice, which he knows as a lawyer.
I agree with Comrade Mumuni Mohammed Tando that the SP has not shown emotional intelligence in the ensuing matters. I, however, vehemently reject the argument, from other people here, that the SP is incompetent! He is competent, in my candid opinion, knowledgeable, and fearless. There are few people who can go against members of the government that appointed them, but this SP did! The NPP members fought him, called him names, but he went after some and did his best. That place (OSP) isn't a joke!! Even Martin Amidu, a known crusader whose boldness and convictions are a matter of public record, could not contain the heat of the office.
The fight against corruption is very convoluted, tedious, and risky! We can criticize him on specific issues like the delay in the handling of Ken Ofori Atta, just as we criticize other institutions when they fail to meet our expectations, but to think that a mere removal of the SP will pave the way for the Office to meet our expectations is the merest simplistic appreciation of the nature of the office. The Office is more credible now because the government that is in power is not the government that appointed him. People cannot easily accuse anyone of connivance for political witch-hunt.
The story will be different if the NDC government appoints a new SP. I recommend the following if we really expect sustainable results from the office:
1. Let the public demand accountability from him in the discharge of his mandate.
2. Let the Attorney General assume full responsibility relative to Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution. If the government wants to prosecute any corrupt officials, it can effectively do so without relying on the OSP. The OSP Act does not obfuscate the supreme law of the land.
3. Alternatively, let's take a bipartisan decision to scrap the office if we have come to the conclusion that it is useless and only serves as a burden to the state purse.
I maintain that the fight against corruption isn't that easy! He has his downsides, but we are not honest to say the man has done nothing and that he is incompetent. I will take part in that discussion when those calling for his replacement succeed. That way, we can compare the new one (should it happen) with the current one.
The NPP sabotaged him so much because he refused to play by their politically designed plan for him to go after only NDC members since they appointed him. He refused and held out his integrity of service. This is the courage required in the office. I am sure at a point, those asking for his removal praised him. But for him, we would not have known of most of the glaring scandals being prosecuted under his office. His exposé alone is necessary in the corruption fight. Let's spare the emotional arguments and critically make a holistic assessment of the operations of the OSP.
Denis Andaban
The Village Boy From DBI
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