Special Prosecutor’s arrest of Prof Frimpong Boateng ‘unnecessary show of power’ — Prof Gyampo

The arrest of renowned heart surgeon and former Environment Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng by the Office of the Special Prosecutor has been described as an “unnecessary show of power” and “harassment.”

Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, said in a Facebook post that Prof Frimpong Boateng could simply have been invited for questioning instead of arrest outright.

“It is disrespectful and an unnecessary show of power as well as harassment to Prof Frimpong Boateng,” Prof Gyampo wrote on Wednesday, June 7.

“I am not a lawyer and I don’t want to be one but I know that Prof Frimpong Boateng could have simply been invited. If he failed to honor the invitation, then the arrest could kick in,” the political science expert stressed.

Prof Gyampo argued that the Special Prosecutor’s office is not truly independent from political control, and should not rush to please certain interests.

“The Special Prosecutor must therefore tone down on his youthful exuberance and must not be rushing to please anybody because, the office is not independent after all, from the control of politicians,” he said.

Prof Frimpong Boateng was invited for questioning by the Special Prosecutor over his explosive report he submitted to the presidency on illegal mining which indicted several government officials.

He was later granted bail, according to the former Environment Minister’s account to the media.

“We don’t fight galamsey by harassing those who expose it, Mr Special Prosecutor. Wo rush a, wo be ti, to wo bo, na wo koraa wonny3 independent biaa saa!” Prof Gyampo said in the local Twi language.

Prof Frimpong Boateng’s arrest has raised concerns about the government’s willingness to fight galamsey as many believe it was an attempt to silence him.