Editorial News of Tuesday, 27 November 2001

Source: --

Interpol boss accuses Attorney General of bias!

The Crusading Guide says recent utterances on radio by Superintendent Opare-Addo, the boss of Interpol Ghana, have raised eyebrows in certain legal and political circles. Supt. Opare-Addo recently accused the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Nana Akufo-Addo of being unable to take an objective position when confronted with cases involving his (Akufo-Addo's) Chambers.

Speaking during an Accra radio newspaper review programme, on the tussle over a Mercedes Benz Car C 240 which has been seized by Interpol Ghana, and an order from the AG's Department that the car be returned to Jobesh Car Rental Services following a High Court order, Supt. Opare-Addo indicated that the AG's Department was not being cooperative with the Police.

He said a lawyer in the AG's outfit whom the police provided with documents (i.e. Writs of Summons and other documents) in connection with the case, had failed to carry out his job due to fear.

Explaining, Opare-Addo said, "the Attorney-General of this country has Chambers, and his Chambers is the Chambers that is handling Jobesh. And under normal circumstances when such cases went to them, they just would blink over it and they would not act as they should."

He went on: "This is what has brought this problem to what it is - Nana Addo's Chambers - the fear is very pronounced in me".

Supt Opare-Addo and the Inspector General of Police had disregarded an Accra High Court ruling to release the Benz car to Jobesh company. They also disregarded the Ags directive that they should release the contentious vehicle and abide by the court ruling.