Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has dismissed suggestions that the government should influence the judiciary to speed up prosecutions under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
The Member of Parliament for Abura Asebu-Kwamankese made the remarks during an interview on PM Express on Joy News on Tuesday.
He said although the government remains committed to pursuing corruption cases, it will not manipulate the courts for political purposes.
“We used to accuse the New Patriotic Party of manipulating the judiciary and not allowing for an independent judiciary. It cannot now be suggested that we should do the same to achieve political ends,” he said.
His comments follow criticism from some observers, including former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, who have questioned the pace of investigations and prosecutions under the ORAL initiative.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu, however, defended the government’s efforts, saying investigative agencies have made significant progress.
According to him, the Attorney-General has supervised investigations resulting in 27 completed dockets, while the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is reviewing an additional 40 cases.
He added that enforcement actions have already been taken, with more than 140 individuals arrested and assets valued at about GH¢1.5 billion seized.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu explained that once cases are filed in court, the pace of proceedings lies with the judiciary.
“When a case goes to court, neither critics nor the government can determine how a judge conducts the proceedings,” he said.
He emphasised that the government’s role is limited to building strong cases, gathering evidence and presenting them before the courts.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu acknowledged that concerns about delays within Judiciary of Ghana are longstanding but insisted that the executive cannot dictate how quickly courts conclude cases.
However, he disclosed that the government is pursuing reforms aimed at improving the handling of certain cases.
According to him, Cabinet has approved the reintroduction of the tribunal system provided for under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana to help speed up the prosecution of cases, including those related to ORAL and illegal financial activities.
He said the system is expected to ease pressure on the courts and accelerate the handling of complex corruption cases.
