Former Minister during the National Democratic Congress(NDC) administration, Inusah Fuseini has urged the Attorney General not to be a judge but rather ensure the laws are applied in prosecuting past officials.
His comments follow Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Kpemka's hint that by October, former government officials who misconducted themselves would be prosecuted. Mr. Kpemka added that, custodial sentences will be applied in order to set examples for people who wish to dip their hands into the public purse.Â
According to Inusah Fuseini, it was wrong for the Deputy Attorney General to make government's intention public and his comments suggest that, they will be 'judges at their own court.'
"Legal ethics require that, they go to court before coming out to speak and also they must allow the right for fair trial as enshrined in the constitution,"he stated.
He added that, any former official should be prepared to answer questions when called upon with regards to misconducting themselves financially and sanctions must be imposed in accordance with law and nothing else.
"Fair trial, require that people must be charged with an existing offence and must be given the opportunity to defend themselves before a known court and not a 'Kangaroo' court and the elements of the crime must be defined,"he explained on Citi FM.
Kpemka he said should not be a judge in his own court but must only present the facts and then an independent and neutral arbiter will determine whether the officer is culpable for the offences.
When sentences are subsequently meted out in accordance with the law, he said, Ghanaians will be satisfied as was the case during former President John Kufuor's administration.
He also recalled late President Atta Mill's comment that he was not going to witch-hunt anybody but be a father for all and asked government to be guided by the law and allow due prosecution to take place.
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