The President of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo has referred the bribery allegations levelled against former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Mr. Charles Adu Boahen, to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for investigations.
Mr. Kissi Agyabeng who is presently the Special Prosecutor (SP) and his law firm, Cromwell Gray LLP, has been defending Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI group for many years now.
Due to Kissi Agyabeng’s long standing relationship with Anas, many political analysts and social commentators have asked that the SP steps down from handling the case. According to them, there may be issues of conflict of interest should the SP take up the case.
“Here is a person who more or less has the issue of conflict of interest. His firm [has been] defending Anas with a number of legal issues in court as we speak. Now he’s been appointed as the Special Prosecutor. Many people are doubting whether Charles will be given a fair hearing because of where the OSP is coming from; his background and the clients involved in this [case].”
Sammy Wiafe, Political Commentator
Currently, Cromwell Gray LLP are in court representing Anas and his Tiger Eye PI group over their 2015 investigations on corruption in the judicial service. They are also in court over the 2018 investigative piece on corruption in Ghana football.
Even though Kissi Agyabeng no longer works at Cromwell Gray LLP, Sammy Wiafe said, “he still has an interest in the firm,” and so it will be prudent if he declines to investigate the case and allows the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) or another formidable state owned agency conduct the investigations.
Editor of the Finder Newspaper, Elvis Darko also insinuated that the accused, Charles Adu Boahen, may not be too comfortable with the SP’s position as Anas’ former Lawyer and so it is best if the SP rejects the job.
“The relationship between Anas and the OSP dates way back… Charles can raise an issue and say he doesn’t feel comfortble [about] the man in charge. [He can say] because [of the SP’s] previous relationship with Anas [he doesn’t trust he will] do a fair job.”
Elvis Darko, Editor the Finder
Gordon Asare Bediako, Editor of the New Crusading Guide, claimed it won’t be fair should the SP investigates the issue. He suggested the case be referred to either the CID or the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) instead.
“In the spirit of fairness or natural justice, [the case] should go straight to either CID or EOCO. Even though it has been referred [to the] OSP, I think the OSP will do himself a lot of good by rejecting it [with] the reasons that he cannot handle this particular matter, another potent state institution should handle it.”
Gordon Bediako, Editor New Crusading Guide
Akufo-Addo Refers Addo Boahen to OSP
In the letter signed by Mr. Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Office of the President on the dismissal of Charles Adu Boahen, President Akufo-Addo referred Adu Boahen to Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyabeng for investigations.
“After being made aware of allegations levelled against the Minister in the expose, “Galamsey Economy”, the President spoke to Mr. Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment, and also to refer the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations.”
Eugene Arhin, Office of the President
This came after excerpts of Tiger Eye PI’s investigative piece “Galamsey Economy” revealed that the Minister of State had met with a team from the Tiger Eye PI group who had disguised themselves as investors at a hotel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sometime in 2018.
The excerpt which was shared on Anas’ official social media platforms hours to the premiere of the expose, disclosed that Charles Adu Boahen was willing to help the investors set up a business in Ghana for a fee.
He even purported that, he could lead them to the Vice President for the same purpose and that with USD200,000, the Vice President will be willing to do business with them.
Meanwhile, Vice President, Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia has since declined any knowledge of such a deal.
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