Anti-graft campaigner, Edem Senanu, has criticised former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, stating that it is not within his purview to determine how the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) should operate.

His remarks follow Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal challenge against the OSP for declaring him a wanted person and a fugitive from justice.

According to Mr Senanu, while it was understood that Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal team had negotiated for his name to be removed from the OSP’s wanted list after confirming his availability for questioning, his subsequent legal action raises doubts about his willingness to cooperate.

• Read also: OSP declares Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive

"I find it curious that subsequent to that, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta is now raising issues that would seem to suggest that he doesn’t seem to present himself.

"It’s a bit confusing and it seems to be a potential breach of trust because, in my understanding, the Special Prosecutor took his name off on the assumption that whatever the layers had negotiated was a firm commitment to showing up to be questioned so that these five cases where he is a prime suspect could be dealt with and concluded,” Mr Senanu stated on JoyNews The Pulse on Monday, March 17.

He questioned the former Finance Minister’s approach, arguing that rather than engaging in legal battles, Mr Ofori-Atta should focus on clearing his name.

• Read also: Ofori-Atta will be declared wanted again if he fails to meet June 2 deadline – OSP

“If I were in his position, I would have first engaged with the Special Prosecutor, provided the evidence and information to show that I hadn’t committed any crime, and subsequent to that, taken the Special Prosecutor on for any legal procedures that he made any mistakes, any right that he’s infringed on but first focus on clearing your name.”

Mr Senanu further warned that Mr Ofori-Atta’s actions could backfire and make the Special Prosecutor more adamant in pursuing the case.

“I don’t think this is the way or the strategic move that would have helped his course if he actually does have a course. Otherwise, all you are doing is to make the Special Prosecutor much more adamant.

• Read also: Ken Ofori-Atta sues OSP for declaring him wanted

"Don’t forget that in any case, it was the Special Prosecutor that instigated the so-called raid. So I’m not sure this is going to end up in the favour of Mr Ken Ofori-Atta the way things are going.”

He stated that Mr Ofori-Atta has no authority to dictate the OSP’s investigative process.

“Mr Ofori-Atta cannot assume to know what evidence the Special Prosecutor has, what issues they want to engage him on. That one is not feasible so he should not begin to as it were determine how the Special Prosecutor should or should not act.

"That in itself potentially will suggest that the Special Prosecutor doesn’t know what he’s doing, the office is not clear what they want to achieve. I think that that particular partake is not the way to go at all.

"You cannot determine what exactly what the Special Prosecutor is seeking to achieve, what questions he has and evidence and so it’s not in the purview of Mr Ofori-Atta to begin to determine how the Special Prosecutor should act or not act,” he said.