Former Sekondi Member of Parliament and lawyer, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has questioned the public criticism of Ken Ofori-Atta for choosing not to voluntarily submit to state investigations.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Mr Mercer argued that the former Finance Minister has committed no crime by electing to avoid the investigative process.
“If he elects not to do that, what law has he breached?” Mercer asked, drawing from his experience as legal counsel for officials from the previous administration.
He framed Ofori-Atta’s potential decision as a legal strategy, not an admission of guilt.
“If Mr. Ofori-Atta elects, that look, with all the public brouhaha that is going on, I do not want to subject myself to this process, if they think they have evidence against me, let them go ahead and obtain their conviction.”
The discussion turned to the expectations of a citizen when sought by law enforcement.
Host Samson Lardy Anyenini pressed Mercer on whether refusing to cooperate was standard or patriotic conduct. Mercer countered by emphasizing the legal right to remain silent.
“No, you can go. You can attend and not speak, true or false,” Mr Mercer stated.
“So if he comes and goes to EOCO or whatever, special prosecutor, and goes to sit there and fold his arms, they ask him questions, I won’t answer. Can anybody compel him to answer?”
Mercer concluded by decrying the “public persecution” and “public trial” he believes Mr Ofori-Atta is facing, arguing that the focus should be on the state’s duty to prove its case through evidence, not on coercing cooperation.
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