By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
A member of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s legal team, Frank Davies has stated that his client will respond appropriately to charges if served by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Lawyer Davies emphasized that Ofori Atta has not decided not to appear in Ghana to face charges, citing his client’s illness.
“If the OSP serves my client his charges, he will respond appropriately not remotely”, he noted.
This follows the alleged refusal of Ken Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana to face 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offenses linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract and other matters.
He’s currently in the United States, US pursuing permanent residency and has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying his visa. Ghana has formally requested his extradition, but Ofori-Atta’s team argues he might not receive a fair trial in Ghana, citing concerns about the independence of the judiciary.
Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues today, Sunday, April 5, Lawyer Davies urged Ghanaians to be cautious when condemning Ofori Atta, stressing that it is unfair to judge without knowing the full circumstances. He also noted that he cannot defend his client in court if the OSP hasn’t served him with charges.
The OSP had previously stated that Ofori Atta had declined to cooperate with investigations into alleged tax evasion and money laundering. However, lawyer Davies insists that his client’s health issues are being overlooked, and he is not being given a fair chance to respond to allegations.
