Member of Parliament for South Tongu, Hon. Maxwell Lukutor, has defended the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) decision to publicly declare former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta a fugitive, arguing that the move forced him to respond and cooperate with the investigation. 

The MP made these remarks during an exclusive interview on Bullet TV’s morning show, Target. 

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) launched an investigation into Ken Ofori Atta regarding alleged financial misconduct. 

However, Ofori-Atta, who had been invited for questioning, left the country and later wrote to the OSP stating that he was out of Ghana indefinitely. This led the Special Prosecutor to invoke his powers to declare him a fugitive, a move that sparked debate among legal and political commentators.

While some critics argued that the OSP acted too hastily in making the declaration, Maxwell Lukutor insists that the action was necessary to prevent Ofori Atta from evading accountability.

In his interview, Lukutor criticized Ofori-Atta’s initial refusal to cooperate, stating that no one is above the law.  

“We have heard of similar cases in the past where individuals simply ignored investigations. How can you be under investigation and then leave the country indefinitely? That suggests you do not want to be investigated,” he stated.  

According to Lukutor, if Ofori-Atta was genuinely seeking medical treatment abroad, he should have provided a clear timeline for his return.  

“Everybody goes for medical reviews, and there are always timelines, if one surgery is done, another follows after six weeks. But in this case, he initially claimed he would be unavailable indefinitely, only to later write that he would return by May 31. That alone shows he was avoiding accountability until the OSP took action,” he argued.  

The South Tongu MP believes that the OSP’s public declaration was the catalyst that compelled Ofori-Atta to formally acknowledge the investigation and provide a return date.

“Before now, even when the majority MPs wanted him removed, the President silenced them. It was as if the Finance Ministry was being run like a family business, where no one could question decisions. That arrogance was what led to this situation,” Lukutor asserted.  

He further stated that the OSP had no choice but to exercise its full powers, as allowing Ofori-Atta to dictate the terms of his cooperation would have undermined the rule of law.  

“If the OSP had waited, nothing would have changed. The law must work, and that’s exactly what happened. Now, he has been forced to comply,” he added.  

With Ofori-Atta now scheduled to return by May 31, the OSP is expected to resume its investigations. 

Meanwhile, legal experts remain divided on whether the OSP’s actions were excessive or necessary in ensuring compliance.  

Ghana l Atinkaonline.com l Ebenezer Madugu

A Private legal practitioner, Nii Tetteh Tettey Esq. has blamed the legal team of the Member of Parliament for Akwatia for failing to properly defend him, leading to an issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest over contempt of court by the Koforidua High Court.

Speaking on Atinka TV’s The Agenda Show with Bernard Lav, Tettey argued that the MP’s absence from court could have been managed if his lawyers had acted responsibly.  

“Let’s assume the MP was in Parliament, but were his lawyers also in Parliament? Their absence contributed to the court’s decision to issue the warrant,” he stated.  

Tettey further cautioned the MP to respect the authority of the judiciary, warning that continued defiance could damage his political career.  

“He should humble himself before the court because Parliament as an institution will not tolerate any MP disregarding the judiciary. Even the Speaker of Parliament respects the court and would not encourage such actions,” he added.  

The court’s ruling highlights the legal and political consequences of failing to comply with judicial directives, with legal experts calling for better coordination between political figures and their legal representatives.

Ghana l Atinkaonline.com I Ebenezer Madugu

Ghana has recorded over 120 cases of meningitis, with 16 deaths as of Sunday, February 16, Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has told Parliament.

Updating lawmakers on the outbreak on Tuesday, February 18, Mr. Akandoh said the Upper West Region remains the hardest hit, with 29 patients currently receiving treatment.

The most affected districts include Wa Municipal, Nadowli, Wa West, Jirapa, and Nandom.

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The Health Minister acknowledged that meningitis outbreaks are common in Ghana’s northern regions due to the country’s location within the “Meningitis Belt” of Africa, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

He added that the disease is most prevalent during the dry and dusty harmattan season, from October to March.

He explained that two main pathogens—Listeria and Streptococcus pneumoniae—are responsible for meningitis outbreaks in Ghana. While vaccines exist for Listeria, they are ineffective against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the strain currently causing the outbreak in the Upper West Region.

In response, the government has deployed a national team of health experts to support regional and district health authorities.

He said treatment for affected patients has been made free, and emergency operations centers have been activated to coordinate the response.

“Additional supplies of antibiotics have been secured, and public awareness campaigns are being intensified to educate the public on symptoms and encourage early treatment.

Community leaders have also been engaged to help spread information, while the World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed experts to assist Ghana in managing the outbreak, the minister stated.

Akandoh noted that these measures are already showing positive results, with a gradual decline in new cases in the Upper West Region.

Source: Graphic

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Council of State, chaired by former Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho, to offer actionable guidance that will help propel the nation forward.

He said they are expected to offer wise counselling on matters of governance, policy and national development drawing from their diverse backgrounds and experience.

“…It is in this state that the Council of State was established, to serve as a fountain of guidance, a reservoir of experience and a patrician of non-partisan insight for the executive arm of government. The Council of State as a distinguished advisory body, is composed of men and women with integrity, experience and sound judgement,” he said after wearing in the 31-member Council of state in Accra on Tuesday, February 18

He added “Your role is not merely ceremonial it is one of profound responsibility. You are expected to offer wise counselling on matters of governance, policy and national development drawing from your diverse backgrounds and experience.

“The time we find ourselves in, demands nothing less than selfless service, constructive dialogue and unwavering patriotism. Our nation faces complex challenges including economic distress, social cohesion issues and the need to strengthen our democratic institutions.

“In addressing these issues, your voices must be heard not in mere rhetoric but in an insightful actionable and transformative guidance that will propel our nation forward,” he urged.

Speaking to journalists after the event, Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo assured to provide honest and unbiased advice.

“The Council of State is a body that is supposed to be advising the president. I am not going to be singing his master’s voice, so to speak. An adviser does not parrot.

“An adviser speaks with honesty. An adviser looks to the best interest not only of the person they are advising but of the function the person is serving,” she explained.

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Source: 3news