Anti-corruption advocate Edem Senanu has urged former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to focus on proving his innocence instead of taking legal action against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

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Senanu believes that Ofori-Atta’s decision to go to court over the OSP’s investigation casts doubt on his willingness to cooperate with the process.

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“I assume that the context within which the lawyers for Mr Ken Ofori-Atta had negotiated his name being taken off was simply the fact that they have now confirmed with further and better particulars when exactly he would be making himself available for the Special Prosecutor to engage.

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"So I find it curious that subsequent to that, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta is now raising issues that would seem to suggest that he doesn’t seem to present himself,” he said on JoyNews' The Pulse on Monday, March 17.

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Senanu made these remarks in response to Ken Ofori-Atta’s recent lawsuit against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The former finance minister is challenging the OSP’s decision to label him as “WANTED” and a “fugitive from justice.”

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Ofori-Atta claims that the OSP exceeded its legal authority by making these statements during a media briefing. He argues that this action violated his basic human rights and went against constitutional rules.

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Senanu also raised concerns that this situation could damage trust, as the OSP had taken Ofori-Atta’s name off the wanted list based on an understanding that he would cooperate and appear for questioning.

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“In my understanding, the Special Prosecutor took his name off on the assumption that whatever the layers had negotiated was a firm commitment to showing up to be questioned so that these five cases where he is a prime suspect could be dealt with and concluded, ” he noted.

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The anti-graft campaigner questioned the former minister’s decision to pursue legal action instead of engaging with the OSP.

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“I think this is a war that – when you want to start a war, you need to think through whether it is really worthwhile. I wonder why Mr. Ofori-Atta at this stage would want to take this up,” he stated.

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Mr Senanu suggested that a better approach would be for Mr Ofori-Atta to first provide evidence to prove his innocence before considering any legal action against the OSP.

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“If I were in his position, I would have first engaged with the Special Prosecutor, provided the evidence and information to show that I hadn’t committed any crime and subsequent to that, taken the Special Prosecutor on for any legal procedures that he made any mistakes, any right that he’s infringed on but first focus on clearing your name,” he advised.

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