adverts
Any Prosecutor Who Files 78 Charges Is Not Serious — Kofi Bentil On Ofori‑Atta Case
Senior legal practitioner and IMANI-Africa Senior Vice President Kofi Bentil has voiced serious concerns over the 78 criminal charges filed against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori‑Atta and his co-accused in connection with the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) scandal.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, December 20, Mr Bentil described the filing of such a voluminous indictment as highly unorthodox and potentially detrimental to the trial process.
According to him, the strategy could complicate proceedings, delay justice, and ultimately undermine the integrity of the case.
adverts
“Any prosecutor involved in a serious case who puts up 78 charges is not serious,” Bentil said. “You and I know how long it takes to prove them in court. The focus is lost when the case is overloaded with so many counts.”
He stressed that in cases where a single individual is clearly the primary target, a concentrated approach with fewer charges—carefully selected to ensure conviction—would be far more effective. “If you are serious, fewer than ten charges are enough to hold him accountable,” he added, emphasising that an overabundance of counts could be counterproductive and give the defence leverage to delay or weaken the case.
The OSP initiated the comprehensive indictment earlier this year, implicating Ofori‑Atta alongside business figures and former public officials.
The charges encompass allegations of corruption, breach of public trust, and other financial crimes linked to the controversial dealings with SML.
While the Special Prosecutor’s office has defended the breadth of the charges, citing the complexity and scale of the alleged misconduct, Mr Bentil argued that this approach may backfire. “With this many charges, the accused can challenge procedural matters, and many of the counts may not stick,” he noted.
He further warned that excessive charges risk prolonging the trial, draining judicial resources, and creating public scepticism about the prosecution’s seriousness. “A focused case ensures clarity, speed, and higher chances of conviction,” he said.
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
