The Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has explained that his interactions with Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng regarding the ongoing investigations into former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, in connection with the GRA-SML deal, were made with genuine intentions.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), however, has issued a cautionary statement to Prof. Gyampo against interfering with its work. The statement revealed that the GSA boss had called and sent messages to Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng about the raid on the premises of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) as part of the ongoing investigations.
Prof. Gyampo, in a media engagement, had earlier cautioned the Special Prosecutor to guard against personal vendetta in his probe against the former Finance Minister and SML.
“I hope the OSP is not motivated by vendetta but by patriotism,” he stated.
The OSP did not take the caution kindly, reiterating that the former Finance Minister is being investigated for specific allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences.
“The OSP wishes to place on record that its actions involving the former Finance Minister are based on stated allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences, particularly abuse of office for profit, including the multi-year contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML),” the statement read.
“Incidentally, the said CEO called and sent messages to the Office in respect of SML while officers of the OSP and National Security were still conducting a legal search of SML’s premises,” it added.
While welcoming constructive criticism, the Special Prosecutor cautioned public officials against interfering—whether directly or through public commentary—with ongoing investigations.
“It cautions public officials to refrain from interfering—whether directly or through unfounded public statements—with ongoing investigations. Such actions have the potential to undermine the fight against corruption,” the OSP warned.
Reacting to the statement on social media, Prof. Gyampo clarified that his contact with the Office was meant to caution against a possible financial loss to the state occasioned by the ongoing probe and not to interfere in any way.
“Kissi, I didn’t call your office; I called YOU, and we never spoke on the phone because you said you couldn’t speak and that you were going to call back. I texted you just to caution you not to cause financial loss to the state even as you go about your investigations, which I fully support.
Given what I have heard from across the political divide about your possible intentions, I only expressed the hope that your motivations are patriotic and not personal. That’s all,” he stated.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo also questioned the basis on which the OSP portrayed him in its statement as obstructing justice.
“It is fine to assure Ghanaians about your intentions, but the part that talks about me calling your office and insinuating that perhaps I called to ask you to do something untoward is unfair and makes me doubt your intentions even more. I will circulate our WhatsApp texts to make the point that I only expressed concern about potential financial loss to Ghana,” Prof. Gyampo posted on Facebook.
