A former Deputy Minister of Energy KT Hammond, has sued the government for directing the Economic and Organised Crime Unit (EOCO) to investigate him over the drill ship saga.
A government White Paper specifically charged “EOCO to investigate the mandate, authority and/or basis of Hon. K.T. Hammond’s disbursement of the US$900,000.00 to the Law Firm ‘Constant and Constant’ to cater for future debts of GNPC to other creditors.”
K.T. Hammond argued that the directive “is unconstitutional, unlawful and a violation of my fundamental human rights.”
The legislator has also added EOCO to the lawsuit.
[contextly_sidebar id=”nih42S6SnBHBe3MY2SQY4NdKAb5M6cZ0″]Government in 2012 commissioned Justice Yaw Apau to investigate judgement debt payments in the country.
After several years of laborious work, the committee presented its report and recommendations to the President in 2015.
The government White Paper on the report ordered EOCO to investigate K.T. Hammond, under whose regime the drill ship belonging to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) was sold.
Though he had earlier agreed to appear before EOCO, Mr. Hammond in his writ explained that per Article 283 of the 1992 Constitution and Practice and Procedure rules of how a Commission of Inquiry operates “a witness before a Commission of Inquiry is entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the High Court.”
He argued that per the Constitution, the revelations he made before the commission, however, cannot be used against him.
“I am also advised by Counsel and verily believe same to be true that one of the privilege(s) and immunities accorded witnesses who appear before the commission of inquiry as provided for in law includes non-investigation by any other entity after the testimony of such a witness.”
K.T. Hammond is however praying the Human Rights court to declare the directive by the government unconstitutional.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana