Ken Ofori-Atta, former Minister of Finance
Lawyer cum historian, Anokye Frimpong, has justified the decision to bypass standard legal procedures in the recent raid on the residence of former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on February 15, 2025, Frimpong argued that, in certain cases, state security measures must take precedence over strict adherence to legal formalities.
“When it comes to investigations, if the state is always required to obtain an arrest warrant and a search warrant, then the government may not be able to conduct crucial investigations, leading to potential embarrassment for the country,” he stated.
Citing an example, he added, “Take it like a Bank of Ghana worker has stolen the country’s money and is travelling with it. If you receive a tip-off, would you wait to get a warrant before searching the person?” he questioned.
Frimpong further argued that, in some instances, strict adherence to the law could hinder national security efforts.
“Sometimes, if you are supposed to follow the law, you will lose a lot of things. So, you go against the law and do what is necessary to protect the state. If you receive intelligence that the finance minister is holding millions of dollars and you decide to get a warrant, the same way you got the tip-off, he might also be alerted to hide the money,” he argued.
The lawyer continued, “At times like that, there is no need to follow due process. If your information is correct, the country benefits, and if nothing is found, you apologize.”
A group of individuals dressed in military uniforms stormed the residence of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 13, 2025.
According to a report by Channel1 TV on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the operation took place at his home in Cantonments, Accra, while Ofori-Atta was reportedly out of the country.
The exact motive behind the raid remains unclear, and authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
Ken Ofori-Atta, an investment banker, served as Ghana’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning from 2017 to 2024 under the administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo. He co-founded the Databank Group, a Ghanaian financial services company, and was its executive chairman until 2012.
AM/KA
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