The recent mass discontinuation of court cases against officials from the previous Nana Akufo Addo administration has sparked heated debate, with government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu defending the move while investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni strongly criticizes it.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight, Felix Kwakye Ofosu justified the Attorney General’s decision, insisting that there must be a clear distinction between “frivolous, malicious persecution and evidence-based prosecution.”
He questioned why a former NDC chairman was dragged through the courts for years over an alleged meeting to discuss responses to political violence, yet those responsible for attacking innocent citizens have never been prosecuted.
To him, the government should not waste public time and resources on what he considers trivial cases when clear evidence of wrongdoing by others remains unaddressed.
“A clear distinction must be made between frivolous, malicious persecution and evidence-based prosecution. How is it that the former chairman of the NDC was put before court for years over an alleged meeting to discuss responses to political violence, while those responsible for attacking innocent citizens have never been prosecuted?” he questioned.
However, Manasseh Azure Awuni sees things differently, warning that the decision undermines Ghana’s fight against corruption. He argues that a government cannot claim to be serious about recovering looted state funds while simultaneously shielding those accused of corruption.
In his words, “Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) cannot succeed when its implementers are engaged in ‘Operation Clear All Looters (OCAL).”
He believes halting these cases sets a dangerous precedent, signaling to public officials that accountability can be dodged if they simply delay their trials until their party returns to power.
Manasseh insists that this move sends a troubling message to politicians on both sides: those charged with corruption should simply drag their cases for as long as possible because once their party regains power, they will be set free.
