The Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, has expressed her office’s readiness to handle election-related cases as the December 7 general elections approaches.
According to Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, her team of prosecutors is fully equipped and prepared to handle the legal complexities that may arise during the election period, which she said is often fraught with heightened tensions, demonstrations, and electoral disputes.
Speaking at a workshop designed to build the capacity of prosecuting attorneys, Obuobisa emphasised the importance of preparedness and diligence on the part of her office, noting that election seasons in Ghana are typically marked by an uptick in legal cases.
She added that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is not only poised to manage election cases but also committed to handling them with the utmost professionalism they deserve.
She stressed that her team is ready to work under challenging conditions, including the likelihood of being called upon at unconventional hours to deal with urgent legal matters.
“We are also on duty 24/7. There are some of us who have been called to attend court on weekends. We have worked deep into the night. We have been recalled from these countless times to attend to emergency cases. We have had to draft charges sometimes, even when you are driving, you are called, and you have to draft charges.
“We know that this is an election year. We know that there will be multiple demonstrations. We are aware that there will be election-related violence cases and the urgency with which they come. Our priorities will be to play our role as prosecutors with honour, with decency, with accuracy, and also with urgency. We must be willing to still work at odd hours when the exigencies of the time demand us to do so and to appear fully prepared and formidable to the call,” she stated.
