Yesterday’s news that Ken Ofori-Atta had been released and was chilling at home with his family and not ICE, should be welcome news for any Ghanaian who believes the rule of law is sacrosanct, due process is key to any prosecution and that bluster, spectacle and bombastic statements are better utilised in the making of movies and Tik Tok content, than in the prosecution of legal cases.
I can only imagine how quickly Mr. Ofori-Atta got into his white clothes and how many prayers have been said and songs of praise and worship sang in the Ofori-Atta household, since his release.
In my culture, there would have been rites to purge his body and soul of that experience. A cow slaughtered, and a feast prepared to share with loved ones and well-wishers, followed by a Sunday church thanksgiving with brass band music and Borborbor for afters.
It appears Ken Ofori-Atta’s release has thrown KEY MEMBERS of the Mahama government into a stupefied silence. The SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS that leveraged their relationship with US authorities, betrayed their own FELLOW citizen and had him thrown behind bars. The SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS who gleefully rejoiced on radio and television about this abuse of due process.
The PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS that sat and watched Members of Parliament brandish banners during budgetary debates impugning the integrity of Ken Ofori-Atta. The PUBLIC FIGURES that sent their appendages to the US Embassy to picket for Ofori-Atta’s return. A PROSECUTING TEAM that knows full well that Mr. Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta has NOT been served with any charges, as we speak, and YET wants an arraignment!
These POLITICAL APPARATCHIKS who have systematically, consistently, and relentlessly pursued a scandalous campaign of political persecution against Ken Ofori-Atta have suddenly LOST their voices?
Their throats are so sore that, in their shame and embarrassment, they have been UNABLE to update the people of Ghana about Mr Ofori-Atta’s release, but have rather left the task to the Ghanaian media. With a sudden explosion of “sources close to the matter” articles on almost all platforms. Which sources? AG? Special Persecutor?
And you, Special Persecutor, why did you NOT alert us yesterday about Ken Ofori-Atta’s release? Or even on Wednesday when the bond hearing took place. Sammy Darko, Director of NO Strategy, why didn’t you go to Facebook to tell us, your venerable employers, about what had transpired in the Immigration Court in DC on April 7th?
Let me hazard a guess. Perhaps because Ayine claimed to be the architect of the deportation via ICE agenda, after your INTERPOL Red Notice attempt had spectacularly failed?
As if this AG/OSP silence were not deafening enough, media reports indicate that this afternoon the AG has filed a suit in the Supreme Court challenging the OSP’s powers. All right-thinking Ghanaians should protest at this development. The last time Dominic Ayine was given free rein to oversee a prosecution, we saw what happened: NOLLE PROSEQUI.
For the moment, however, Dominic Ayine, slow your roll. AG, you have been too quiet! Your silence must end now with Ken Ofori-Atta’s release. Could we have a press conference, please? Not Rumble in the Jungle. Maybe, Ken, out of the Pen? Ofori returns to glory?
Special Persecutor, you too, how far? You must speak now. You knew you were suited for a movie career because of your love of drama and performing for the camera.
Yet you chose Law. Now that you have expertly incorporated “Lights! Camera! Action!” into carrying out your mandate as OSP, please, can we have a press conference? We miss you. So so so so much!
G.A. Agbesinyale
(Political Activist, Human Rights Advocate, Citizenship Rights Promoter, Social Justice Warrior)
