Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem Sai has confirmed that former Energy and Education Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, is under investigation by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
However, Dr. Srem Sai was quick to emphasize that this does not imply guilt.
“He said he’s been going to the NIB for a while now. Nobody knew until he said it publicly,” Dr. Srem Sai stated on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday night.
According to him, the investigations relate to various projects executed during Dr. Opoku Prempeh’s tenure at both the Energy and Education Ministries over the eight-year period of the Akufo-Addo administration.
When asked about the scope of the probe, he replied, “A number of things. He was a minister for Energy and Education, so definitely, we have projects that were undertaken during his time. And so he would definitely be answering questions in respect of that.”
One such project is the controversial procurement of mathematical sets during his time as Education Minister. But Dr. Srem Sai clarified that being invited for questioning does not amount to culpability.
“You will not be prosecuted unless there is evidence that you were complicit in some of the things you undertook,” he said. “The fact that you were a minister at the time doesn’t mean that you will be criminally liable for anything.”
He cited the example of former Attorney General and later Railway Minister Joe Ghartey, who was invited for questioning over the Sky Train project but was ultimately not named in the charge sheet.
“There are things that can happen in a ministry which may not be your doing,” Dr. Srem Sai said. “And the fact that you have been invited for questioning doesn’t mean you are guilty.”
He also praised the maturity and cooperation shown by many government officials currently under investigation.
“I appreciate the demeanour of a lot of the government appointees,” he noted. “Once in a while, you hear someone has been picked up or invited, but I can tell you a large number of those who have been arrested, are on bail, or are under investigation are quiet.”
He said many are respecting the process and choosing not to attract media attention. “They won’t make any noise about it. Some believe the process must be allowed to work.”
While acknowledging that a few individuals make public appearances or draw crowds to institutions like EOCO, he stressed that the majority are compliant and cooperative.
“You go to court when the evidence shows that there’s a crime,” Dr. Srem Sai concluded.
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