A top law firm, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB), has accused state investigators of intimidation and abuse of power after authorities arrested and detained two of its lawyers over the ongoing PDS-ECG case.
In a statement released on May 8, 2026, the firm said some media reports had falsely suggested that the firm and its lawyers were involved in criminal activity.
“Our attention has been drawn to reports, including a social media update by the President’s Spokesman, Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, indicating that a PDS ‘quartet’ had been arrested and granted bail in respect of money ‘believed’ to belong to ECG.”
The firm explained that the social media post mentioned “Justice Menka-Premoh” and “Sophia Korkor,” which were incorrect spellings of the names of lawyers working with the firm.
The statement also referred to a later interview in which a spokesperson from the Attorney-General’s office claimed that four individuals, including the firm’s lawyers, had been arrested over the transfer of GH¢850 million from an ECG account.
“The social media post and interview have unfortunately formed the basis of several media stories that inaccurately portray our firm and its lawyers as having engaged in illicit activities.
“These representations are misleading and damaging to the professional reputation of our firm and the individual lawyers who were arrested and detained.”
According to the firm, Senior Partner Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo and Junior Partner Sophia Kokor went to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) office at Kawukudi on April 30, 2026, to represent two clients connected to the PDS-ECG investigation.
The firm said officials from the BNI and the Economic and Organised Crime Office stopped the lawyers from representing their clients and instead labelled them as “persons of interest.”
“This escalated into the restriction of the movement of Mr Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo and Ms Sophia Kokor.”
The statement added that investigators questioned and arrested both lawyers based on what the firm described as unclear and unsupported accusations of “Dishonestly Receiving” and “Abetment of Money Laundering.”
“They were detained until the evening of the following day, Friday, May 1, 2026 and then granted bail in the excessive sum of GH¢50 million each.”
The firm strongly criticised the actions of the investigators and argued that the situation went beyond a normal criminal investigation.
“This is not a standard criminal investigation; it is a direct assault on the right to legal counsel and the professional immunity of lawyers.”
The firm also noted that all four people mentioned in the arrest reports had taken part in arbitration proceedings involving PDS, ECG, and the Government of Ghana at the London Court of International Arbitration.
The arbitration process began in 2021 and ended with a ruling in November 2025.
“PDS owed no money to ECG beyond the costs which were awarded, and which have long since been settled.”
The firm insisted that the arrests formed part of “a calculated attempt to intimidate and harass our lawyers and the firm”.
It warned that such actions could weaken public trust in the justice system.
“When lawyers are arrested for discharging their professional obligations and are then denied the right to represent their clients, the integrity of the entire justice system is compromised.”
