Former Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has expressed strong reservations about the approach of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, raising questions about its legality and adherence to constitutional principles.
In an interview with TV3, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu voiced his concerns regarding allegations of looting levelled against individuals. He argued that the committee’s approach undermines fundamental legal tenets.
“If you’re alleging looting, already you’ve established criminality against individuals. Is that what the Constitution provides? A person is deemed innocent until proven guilty,” he stated firmly.
His remarks highlighted a broader issue with how the committee operates, particularly in its decision to write to individuals accused of wrongdoing.
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“You’re saying that the person has looted; you’ve written a letter to the person. What authority do you have to do that? You’re shredding the image of the person, and yet you’ve not established through any due process that the person has engaged in any criminality,” he continued.
The seasoned politician called for a more measured and constitutionally sound approach, emphasizing the importance of due process.
“We are not in a coup regime. Everything should resort to due process. A person has a right to own his property. If you think that he used unorthodox means to acquire the property, let’s resort to due process and retrieve it for the state,” he asserted.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s concerns reflect a growing debate about the balance between rooting out corruption and respecting the rights of individuals. His comments underscore the delicate line between holding individuals accountable and adhering to legal protocols.
“What kind of system is that?” he questioned, pointing to the potential for abuse if allegations are treated as facts without thorough investigation or trial.
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