Lawyer Martin Kpebu has said the transfer of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah’s case to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) offers them an opportunity to prove sceptics wrong.
Making reference to former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, Martin Kpebu said that All government agencies, to the extent that they are funded by government, are influenced by government actors thus this case is an acid test for the anti-corruption agency to prove the sceptics wrong.
The lawyer’s comments follows the decision of the Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng to hand over the case involving Madam Cecilia Dapaah to EOCO after months of investigation.
According to the OSP, it has determined that the crime borders largely on money laundering, which falls within the mandate of EOCO.
Lawyer Kpebu believes that despite the widespread skepticism among some Ghanaians that EOCO may not be able to do an independent investigation into the matter, if EOCO is successful, that perception may change.
“All government agencies, to the extent that they are funded by government, government has some influence. Even Martin Amidu said it. As special prosecutor, he said that President Akufo Addo is interfering too much.
So naturally, I will also join in that concern. And the concern is positive. Once people show they are apprehensive, then that is an incentive for the state institution, in this case EOCO, to prove us wrong. So, this should be an incentive for EOCO to prove us wrong. The lack of trust is positive, because the moment we all end up praise singing of a state institution, there is the incentive to be complacent. So, I see it as positive that people are vigilant and weary because of the context, and clearing agent issues,” he said in a TV3 interview.
He however, advised EOCO to involve the Police Service in its investigation to ensure that they succeed in their case.
“Based on the Supreme court decision, it is safer that EOCO involves the police so that if it turns out that the matter is not for EOCO, because the police are involved, they take over quickly. Rather than EOCO does it alone and sees that the money is private, it’s not government money and it has to send it to the police.”