Gov’t Will Not Interfere with Judiciary to Speed Up ORAL Cases – Kwakye Ofosu
Government insists it will not pressure courts to speed up ORAL corruption cases but promises structural reforms to ease judicial delays.
- Gov’t will not manipulate the judiciary to accelerate ORAL prosecutions.
- EOCO investigating 27 dockets and 40 additional cases, with GH¢1.5bn in assets seized.
- Tribunal system to be reintroduced to help reduce court delays.
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has dismissed calls for the government to pressure the judiciary to accelerate prosecutions under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the government remains committed to fighting corruption but will not manipulate the courts for political purposes.
The Abura Asebu-Kwamankese MP argued that interfering with the judiciary would contradict the principles the current administration previously defended.
He noted that past accusations against the New Patriotic Party claimed the party interfered with the independence of the courts, adding that the current government would not repeat such actions.
His comments follow criticism from some observers, including former Auditor-General of Ghana Daniel Domelevo, who questioned the speed at which state institutions are handling corruption investigations under the ORAL framework.
However, Kwakye Ofosu insisted that significant progress has already been made by investigative agencies. According to him, the Attorney-General of Ghana, who assumed office early last year, has overseen numerous investigations and case preparations.
He revealed that authorities have compiled 27 investigation dockets, while another 40 cases are currently being reviewed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
In addition, he said enforcement efforts have led to more than 140 arrests and the seizure of assets worth approximately GH¢1.5 billion, with several suspects already standing trial.
Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that once cases are filed in court, the government has no control over how quickly they proceed.
According to him, the responsibility of the executive branch is limited to conducting investigations, gathering evidence, and presenting strong cases before the courts.
He acknowledged that delays within Ghana’s judicial system have long been a concern but said such issues should not be blamed solely on the government.
To address the challenge, he disclosed that the government has approved structural reforms, including the reintroduction of the tribunal system provided for in the constitution.
He explained that once implemented, the tribunals will help fast-track cases related to ORAL, illegal financial activities, and other matters that currently slow down the regular court system.
Despite these reforms, Kwakye Ofosu maintained that the government cannot determine how quickly judges handle cases once they are before the courts.
