Accra: Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has criticized the excessive "drama" surrounding the legal situation of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, describing it as unnecessary theater.
According to Ghana Web, Pratt argued that Ghana's legal system already allows for individuals to be tried in absentia, and he questioned why the authorities and political actors are letting the situation escalate. "The fact that our laws allow trial in absentia so, what is all this drama and so on? If Mr Ofori-Atta would not come, go ahead and try him in absentia. So, what is the drama about? I don't understand what is happening," Pratt stated on Metro TV.
He emphasized that the events unfolding amount to political theater on all sides, which he finds inappropriate for a matter of national importance. "There's so much drama and I think a lot of it is political theater and both on the side of Mr Ofori-Atta himself and those who support him, and also those on the other side, there seems to be too much political theater and I'm not comfortable with political theater in matters such as this," Pratt remarked.
While acknowledging that questions may exist regarding the former finance minister's conduct, Pratt maintained that the proper forum for resolving such issues is the court. "Clearly, there may be questions that he has to answer. Indeed, there are questions that he has to answer. If he won't be here to answer, take it before a judge. Let a judge make a determination as to whether indeed there have been violations of the laws of this country and if there have been violations of the laws of this country, apply the penalty," he queried.
He dismissed claims that Ofori-Atta would face humiliation if he returned to Ghana, arguing that arrest and bail are standard legal procedures. "If I were Mr Ofori-Atta, I would have returned to Ghana because the circumstances in Ghana today will show that he would arrive at the airport, he probably would be put under arrest and being put under arrest is not humiliation. He would be put under arrest. He would be given all the necessary conditions for bail and then he would get his bail and he would go home and rest like all his other colleagues who are facing similar processes go home," Pratt indicated.
Pratt warned that the case could drag on for years due to Ofori-Atta's resources and access to top legal representation, questioning the rationale behind the continued impasse. "This case can drag for 10 years or more given the fact that Mr Ofori-Atta appears to have substantial resources at his disposal. We can hire the best lawyers, his lawyers can play the legal game in court and so on and this case can drag for 8 - 10 years and so on during which period, he will still be enjoying some measure of respect and freedom and so on. I cannot understand why there is this standoff, him refusing to come and all the drama and so on," he concluded.