Instantly outgoing Lawyer Normal Godfred Yeboah Dame strongly criticized the present authorities’s transfer that might weaken the Workplace of Particular Prosecution (OSP), calling the event “stunning and disconcerting.”
Talking on PM Specific with host Evans Mensah on Wednesday, he mentioned he was stunned that the legal professional basic would pursue authorized avenues that might cripple anti-corruption companies.
“I’m shocked and perplexed,” he mentioned, “as a result of I’m stunned {that a} lawyer would actively pursue steps that might result in the collapse of an anti-corruption company just like the Particular Prosecutor’s Workplace.”
His feedback come within the wake of rising public debate over the case involving OSP’s powers, with a number of civil society teams looking for to affix the case over considerations that the result might weaken OSP.
Dame, who performed a key position in establishing OSP, accused the federal government of hypocrisy.
“We’re seeing the manifestations of contradiction and hypocrisy of this NDC authorities enjoying out in all areas,” he mentioned.
“What they are saying to realize public sympathy and what they really do are completely different.”
He mentioned the present administration’s claims that the earlier administration tried to undermine OSP are baseless.
“So that they have been claiming that they have been doing the whole lot they might for the prosecution and that there was an try to undermine the OSP when the NPP was in authorities, however in actuality there was completely nothing,” he mentioned.
In response to references to previous public feedback by the particular counsel, Dame argued these considerations have been associated to the courtroom’s ruling and never interference from the federal government.
“It wasn’t within the context of the federal government making an attempt to undermine the Workplace of the Prime Minister,” he defined.
The previous legal professional basic additionally defended his relationship with the particular counsel, saying he personally appointed him and deliberately averted interfering along with his work.
“He was my classmate. I knew him nicely. I trusted his educational {and professional} skills,” he mentioned.
“I’ve by no means given any route to the particular prosecutor. By no means. I’ve by no means written a single letter to the particular prosecutor in my workplace.”
Dame maintained that there was no battle between his workplace and OSP throughout his tenure.
“There was no interference from me,” he burdened.
He mentioned he revered the company’s independence even because the OSP pursued circumstances involving members of the then-ruling NPP.
“Actually, he was clear that it was daring to go after NPP member states, and I went together with that,” he mentioned.
Dame additionally denied ideas that he obtained preferential remedy from the courts throughout his tenure, insisting that his authorized victories have been achieved by way of arduous work and preparation.
“I had no intention of sacrificing the pursuits of the nation in favor of non-public pleasure,” he mentioned, recounting how he had missed a deliberate soccer journey to Liverpool to organize for a world arbitration case.
He concluded by calling for the strengthening of state establishments.
“So I believe it’s vital to work in a approach that strengthens state establishments,” he mentioned.
