body-container-line-1
21.05.2009 General News

Mpiani dares government to prosecute him

By The Chronicle
Mpiani dares government to prosecute himMpiani dares government to prosecute him
21.05.2009 LISTEN

The former Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs under President John Agyekum Kufour's regime, Mr. Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, has declared his readiness to face the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the law courts, over threats that he and other former Ministers would soon face prosecution.

According to him, he is ever prepared to answer questions relating to his duties under the NPP administration, and that he has done nothing untoward to be afraid of any court action.

To him, Ghana is practising rule of law where everybody is allowed to express his views and opinions, unlike under Military regime.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghanaian Chronicle, Wednesday, Mr. Mpiani, who is now the chairman for the Association of former Ministers said “I am not worried about the threats.” It is the prerogative of the government to prosecute people that they think have done something wrong.

"If the NDC claims they have incriminating evidence, after their transitional team investigations to put us before court, we are ready for them.”

The tough talking politician said, “It is good that this is not a military era, where it would be difficult for anybody to express his views. I am entitled to go to the court and explain my case,” he said, adding that, “For me, I am not worried at all. The threats are not something that I think about, but it is important that things are done through due process.”

He believes the NDC has the right to prosecute individuals through due process which is in the interest of the nation.

Former Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, dared the NDC to go to court and that he is armed to meet them at the law courts.

According to him, he has a lot of dossiers about the NDC government, pointing out that actions of the NDC against him would fall flat in the court of law.

Maxwell Kofi Jumah, also the former Chief Executive Officer of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly in the Ashanti Region, and now the legislator for Asokwa, believes that he is clean.

It would be recalled that immediately the NPP left government, some NDC top men started advocating for the prosecution of members of the immediate past government. Names such us Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, Dr. Richard Anane, Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Mrs. Gladys Asmah and a host of others, including the former CEO of Ghana @50, Dr. Wereku Brobbey have come up.

In the heat of the threats, the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, called for the arrest of the former Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Begyina Sekyi Huges, based on allegations that he has looted state items from his residence.

President Mills has, however, indicated that though people who are found culpable of dipping their hands into state coffers would be prosecuted, that will be done through due process, without political witch-hunting.

body-container-line