Ofosu Ampofo and lawyers snub CID invitation

Lawyers for National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), yesterday got him to decline an invitation extended to him by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) saying the state security apparatus must focus on the growing insecurity in the country, the failures of security agencies and the collapse of governance structures as a whole.

Mr. Samuel OfosuAmpofo’slawyers led by Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine in a letter dated May 9, 2019, called the bluff of the Director-General of CID, saying “We take the respectful view that since our client is not under arrest for the alleged offences, he is legally entitled to decline your invitation. We have therefore advised him accordingly.”

The CID, had invited Mr Ampofo over the recent kidnappings and fire incidents in the country. A letter from the CID, said Mr Ampofo, had been mentioned as being part of a grand scheme to cause fear and panic in the country.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, has commenced investigations into cases of kidnapping and fire outbreaks in various parts of the country.

Intelligence gathered indicates that some of these kidnappings and fire outbreaks, are being orchestrated by various unidentified groups, persons and individuals.”

“Some of the persons picked up for interrogation and investigation have mentioned your name as part of a grand scheme designed to cause fear and panic in the country. As a result of the above information and intelligence, you are kindly requested to report to the undersigned on Thursday 9th May, 2019 at 2pm to assist in our investigations,” portions of the letter said.

However, Mr Ampofo’s lawyers in a letter said the invitation is simply “an attempt to pass the buck and shift the blame over the increasing inability of the security agencies to manage and control the failures of security and the governance structures as a whole.”

They further indicated that the invitation constitutes a “gross abuse of the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the Police as a public institution.”

Excerpt of the response signed by a former deputy attorney general, Dr. Dominic Ayine reads: “Having carefully reviewed your letter against the background of the ongoing prosecution of our client, we are unable to resist the conclusion that your invitation and so-called investigations into kidnapping, arson and other crimes is collateral to the on-going criminal trial, and that its purpose is partly to prejudice our client’s defence.

“Further, our client views the letter of invitation as reflective of an undeniable pattern of political harassment and intimidation which violates his fundamental human rights, particularly his constitutional rights to personal dignity and political association that is devoid of intimidation and harassment. On our part, while we appreciate that every citizen has a constitutional duty to assist law enforcement agencies in the discharge of their mandate, our considered view is that the current invitation constitutes a gross abuse of the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the police as a public institution.

“We take the respectful view that since our client is not under arrest for the alleged offences, he is legally entitled to decline your invitation. We have therefore advised him accordingly.”

The latest invitation comes at the time Mr Ampofo and the deputy communication officer of the NDC, Kwaku Boahen, are facing charges of conspiracy to cause harm and assault against a public officer following a leaked tape during a meeting of party officials.

Mr Ampofo has denied the voice on the leaked tape is his. A voice on the leaked tape told party communicators that “we’re going to take her [EC boss] to the cleaners.”

“As for the EC chair, we must wage a relentless war on this EC chair. Me, she doesn’t want to see my face,” Ofosu-Ampofo allegedly said at the meeting which took place after the Ayawaso by-election.

As part of strategic communication plans for the NDC going into the 2020 elections, Ofosu-Ampofo allegedly gave his blessings for the communicators to verbally attack the Peace Council chairman Professor Emmanuel Asante.

Interestingly, Kweku Boahene, has filed documents in the court, saying he was not present in the said meeting where the recording was done, throwing a challenge to the government to prove it claim.

The two were in April 2019 granted a GHc100,000 bail with one surety each.

The late filing of some substantial evidence by the Attorney General for the prosecution of Samuel Ofosu Ampofo on Monday forced the High Court hearing the case to adjourn sitting.

The Attorney General filed documents including a caution statement, charge statement, witness statement, forensic report, CD’s and transcript of the alleged audio at the registry of the court on Monday morning.

The case was adjourned to give the defence team an opportunity to study the new documents filed by the Attorney General.