We’ve advised Ofosu Ampofo to decline CID’s invitation – Lawyers

Lawyers for National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo have advised him to dishonour an invitation extended to him by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

“We take the respectful view that since our client is not under arrest for the alleged offences, he is legally entitled to decline your invitation. We have therefore advised him accordingly,” the lawyers stated in a letter addressed to the Director-General of Criminal Investigations Department.

The CID invited Mr. Ampofo over the recent kidnappings and fire incidents in the country.

A letter from the CID said Mr. Ofosu Ampofo had been mentioned as being part of a grand scheme to cause fear and panic in the country.

“The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has commenced investigations into cases of kidnapping and fire outbreaks in various parts of the country. Intelligence gathered indicates that some of these kidnappings and fire outbreaks are being orchestrated by various unidentified groups, persons and individuals.”

“Some of the persons picked up for interrogation and investigation have mentioned your name as part of a grand scheme designed to cause fear and panic in the country. As a result of the above information and intelligence, you are kindly requested to report to the undersigned on Thursday 9th May, 2019 at 2pm to assist in our investigations,” portions of the letter said.

However, Mr. Ampofo’s lawyers in a letter said the invitation is simply “an attempt to pass the buck and shift the blame over the increasing inability of the security agencies to manage and control the failures of security and the governance structures as a whole.”

They further indicated that the invitation constitutes a “gross abuse of the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the Police as a public institution.”

The CID’s invitation follows a similar one served him weeks ago over some comments Mr. Ampofo allegedly made in the leaked audio.

In the leaked audio which the NDC claimed was doctored, Mr. Ampofo appeared to be condoning political violence and urging threats against the lives of some personalities including the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

Ofosu Ampofo charged

Ofosu-Ampofo alongside a deputy National Communication Director of the NDC, Kweku Boahen are facing charges of conspiracy to cause harm and assault against a public officer over the leaked tape.

They were in April 2019 granted a GHc100,000 bail with one surety each.

The late filing of some substantial evidence by the Attorney General for the prosecution of Samuel Ofosu Ampofo on Monday forced the High Court hearing the case to adjourn sitting.

The Attorney General filed documents including a caution statement, charge statement, witness statement, forensic report, CD’s and transcript of the alleged audio at the registry of the court on Monday morning.

The case was adjourned to give the defence team an opportunity to study the new documents filed by the Attorney General.

Source: citinewsroom