Mr. Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, Council of State Member for the Ashanti Region, has said no one is above the law and that one’s friendship with any political leader cannot be used as a shield against accountability.
He was reacting to recent comments by Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, Founder and Head Pastor of Power Chapel Worldwide, to the effect that he was prepared to go to prison for the second time rather than abandon his friendship with former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
However, in a statement, the Council of State member has stated that friendship does not confer immunity.
He said the declaration by Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng raises an important question: why he thinks his friendship with Dr. Bawumia is the reason anyone would send him to prison.
According to the Council of State member, Ghana is not an animal kingdom but a sovereign state and constitutional democracy where the rule of law works.
“No one goes to prison solely because of the friendships they maintain. Imprisonment follows due process and criminal liability as established by law”, he explained.
Mr. Obimpeh said whilst he understands Rev. Kusi Boateng about not being afraid of prison, his repeated references to imprisonment, however, sound like a pre-emptive defence.
The Council of State member stressed that there is nothing to fear if one has done nothing wrong, stressing that where there are allegations, competent institutions must conduct investigations for the law to take its course if evidence establishes an offense.
The Council of State member also noted that Rev. Kusi Boateng served as Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral project, which became one of the most controversial public finance initiatives under the previous NPP government, led by Nana Akufo-Addo.
He cited concerns raised over substantial public expenditure on the unfinished project and referenced a Deloitte report that identified significant financial and governance issues, including a GH¢2.6 million transaction involving JNS Talent Centre Limited.
Following this, he said, CHRAJ recommended a forensic audit and further investigation into procurement-related matters for which the National Cathedral Secretariat has provided explanations on the transaction.
Mr. Obimpeh argued that “the appropriate response should be evidence, transparency and due process, instead of political rhetoric.
The Council of State member, citing historical examples, asked whether political figures like Kwame Peprah, Victor Selormey and Ibrahim Adams were prosecuted solely because of their association with former President Jerry John Rawlings.
He also cited the case of Tsatsu Tsikata, who was convicted and imprisoned but later acquitted and discharged on appeal.
He stated that guilt should not be proclaimed by politicians, pastors, or the media before the courts render a decision.
“If Rev. Kusi Boateng is ever required to answer before the law, it will not be because of his friendship with Dr. Bawumia; it will depend on the evidence presented”, Mr. Obimpeh stated.
He said Rev. Kusi Boateng’s political affiliation with the NPP is his democratic right, but political loyalty does not permit anyone to avoid accountability from their political administration.
He added that with substantial public resources allocated to the National Cathedral and serious financial governance questions raised, Ghanaians deserve clarity on whether political friendships should exempt anyone from accountability.
Mr. Obimpeh reiterated that the pulpit should promote truth and moral leadership rather than serve as a platform for claims of persecution, and pleaded with Rev. Kusi Boateng to allow the institutions of the state to fulfill their constitutional duties.
He reminded Rev. Kusi Boateng that if he has done nothing wrong, the evidence will clear his name, and if there are legitimate questions, he should address them.
He indicated that the law is guided by evidence and not friendship with another person.
“Ghana does not need manufactured martyrs; what we need is truth, accountability and equal justice for all,” the Council of State member stated.
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