Without proving the criminality of the late Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) cannot freeze his accounts, security consultant Richard Kumadoe has stated.
His comment comes on the back of reports that the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyabeng, ordered the freezing of all assets of the late Sir John after alleged portions of his will were released on social media, as it continues investigations into allegations of unlawful acquisition of state lands.
The action affects all assets mentioned in the Will and Final Testament of Sir John.
In the supposed Will, Sir John had given portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve and Ramsar lands at Sakumono in Accra to some family members forever.
Speaking on the development, Mr Kumadoe insisted that the grounds on which the Office of the Special Prosecutor froze Sir John’s assets are unclear and seem to be tarnishing the dead man’s reputation.
“I don’t know the grounds on which the Special Prosecutor froze the assets of Sir John. Did he freeze all his assets or what? The OSP needs to bring an explanation for this because freezing the assets of Sir John means he was involved in some aspects of criminality, so what are they?” he questioned.
He insisted that except the Achimota Forest lands and other state lands in Sir John’s will, none of his other properties has been said to be derived from questionable means.
“The state lands in there are contestable, but what about his other lands and bank accounts? What about his houses and other things? Were there any malfeasance in their acquisition?” he queried in an interview on ETV.