Member of Parliament for Effia, Isaac Yaw Boamah Nyarko, has questioned why the National Democratic Congress leadership is now speaking strongly against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
According to him, the NDC’s sudden outrage from the Majority is only because it affected Lawyer and private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, whom he describes as a friend of the party.
Speaking on Metro TV and monitored by NewsDesksGH on December 5, he said the Majority caucus’ reaction during Thursday’s parliamentary debate on the OSP sharply contrasted with their silence on earlier concerns raised about the institution.
“The OSP is completely out of order. But why, is it because it is Martin Kpebu that we’re making noise,” he said.
“The OSP has been conducting this business over the years. NPP, civil society, Ghanaians have raised concerns. Everybody didn’t mind or people didn’t care,” he added.
“Now it has touched Martin Kpebu who’s a friend of the NDC today and so the Majority have a reason to come and raise it on the floor.”
His remarks came after Majority Caucus spoke against the OSP in Parliament on Thursday, December 5.
Leader Mahama Ayariga led calls for the abolition of the OSP and argued that a properly resourced Attorney-General’s office would be more effective in handling corruption cases.
Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor also condemned the OSP’s handling of Kpebu’s detention, accused the office of abuse of power and threatened that Parliament might dissolve the office.
Boamah Nyarko said the forcefulness of Dafeamekpor’s presentation, including his decision to breach procedure to deliver an urgent statement, revealed a politically motivated defence.
“I’m talking about the venom with which Nelson Dafeamekpor; in Parliament we have time for statement including when to make urgent statement. He breached that procedure and went ahead to give an urgent statement.”
“I’m asking, if not for Martin Kpebu, because this is not the first time the OSP has conducted himself in that manner. So if not for Martin Kpebu, the NDC leadership wouldn’t have found their voices?” he questioned.
He added that past concerns about Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) were similarly ignored.
“It is about the system and the way people use those offices to abuse people,” he said.
