BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has publicly criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for what he describes as “unreasonable and heavy-handed” conditions attached to his release following his arrest on Wednesday, December 3.
The incident has reignited tensions between Martin Kpebu and the OSP, which have been simmering over a series of confrontations and allegations.
A History of Clashes
Martin Kpebu’s disputes with the OSP are not new. Over recent months, he has been a vocal critic of the office, raising allegations of procedural lapses, corruption, and irregularities in the handling of high-profile investigations.
In the past, he has accused the OSP of failing to follow due process in probes involving public officials, including the former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
OSP officials, for their part, have previously described Kpebu’s behaviour as confrontational and misleading, particularly in his interactions with security personnel and investigators.
Sammy Darko, Director of Communications at the OSP, previously said that Kpebu had on multiple occasions misrepresented events publicly, prompting the office to closely monitor and record his visits to ensure accurate documentation.
The Arrest And Bail Controversy
According to Martin Kpebu, the confrontation escalated when he was allegedly verbally abused by a soldier stationed at the OSP during his visit.
He said that after providing his statement, he was surprised when the OSP set a bail condition requiring proof of ownership of a landed property in his name.
“After I was arrested and I had written my statement, when it was time for them to grant me bail, they stated that I needed to provide a landed property in my name, and it looked like a joke to me,” Martin Kpebu told Joy FM during a Thursday interview.
He expressed frustration at what he perceives as inconsistent and punitive treatment. “After a soldier had verbally abused me and you haven’t protected me, someone who has come to help you to do your work, and now you arrest me, and you say I should produce a landed property,” he added.
Martin Kpebu argued that such conditions were unnecessary, particularly for someone who voluntarily came to assist the OSP in its investigations.
He described the demand as disproportionate, raising concerns about procedural fairness and the treatment of citizens interacting with the office.
OSP Response And Public Silence
As of Thursday, the OSP had not issued a public statement addressing Kpebu’s allegations regarding the bail conditions. Previous responses from the office emphasize that arrests and bail procedures are conducted according to law and internal protocols, with the aim of protecting staff and maintaining order on the premises.
