According to him, the OSP made the statement based on the intelligence available to them, which led them to believe and conclude that the raid was staged.
Darko further emphasised on JoyNews on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, that the claim of the raid being staged was in response to reports from Ofori-Atta’s household and sympathisers, who misrepresented that the military personnel who stormed the minister’s residence were officials from the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
He however mentioned that the former statesman’s household was aware, even before the OSP’s press conference, that the individuals who raided their residence were not from the prosecutor’s office as claimed, stating that they had video evidence to support this.
“… The intelligence available to the OSP is the intelligence available to the OSP. The OSP said what they said based on the intelligence they have and it was communicated. He said what he said in the context that the accusations by Ofori-Atta’s household and by persons who were very sympathetic to him said it was the OSP.
“The household of Ofori-Atta including all the people who know, knew 12 hours prior to OSP’s press conference that it was not the OSP because they had the videos and pictures. The OSP was responding directly to Ofori-Atta that it could not be true and that he either staged it or it was an imposter action. It was said in context,” he insisted.
When asked by the host if the OSP would apologise for claiming the raid was staged, Darko maintained that the OSP did not err in its statement. He insisted that they had their own intelligence, which confirmed the claim.
He further added that there is no evidence to contradict the OSP’s claim, dismissing available videos that show the raid was led by Richard Jakpa.
“It doesn’t matter because you do not know the intelligence that was available to the OSP. When we say someone has staged something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that person is the one besieging the house to do whatever. After all, from the videos we watched, it wasn’t a raid but it was tagged as one. There is no evidence because the National Security has not come out to say anything,” he said.
The OSP has faced intense public backlash following claims that the raid on Ofori-Atta’s residence was staged, especially after CCTV footage emerged showing Richard Jakpa and other men in military uniform, armed and storming the residence.
