Member of Parliament (MP) for the Binduri Constituency in the Upper East Region, Hon. Dr. Robert Kuganab-Lem says the publication of test results of Prophet Kwabena Owusu Adjei in the public domain demonstrates a breach of the client’s confidentiality.
The test results of the suspect, he observes should not have been put into the media for publication. His comments comes at the back of the arrest and detention of Prophet Owusu Adjei by operatives of National Security recently over what been described as “hate speech”.
Presumptive tests, experts in the forensic practice say are prone to false positives and negatives and are usually meant for screening purposes as the final results must be confirmed with the gold standard.
“The requirements for presenting a confirmatory forensic report has not been met and client confidentiality has been breached,” Dr. Kuganab-Lem, who is also a Member of the Health and Judicial Committee in Ghana’s Parliament stated.
He questioned whether the suspect has a right to confidentiality and whether it was upheld under the ethics and standards of forensic and police practice and whether the publication of results of the test on social media amounts to breach of this confidentiality?
The Legislator, further enquired whether the test carried out on the suspect was confirmatory or presumptive as well as whether the Psychiatrist who signed off the report was competent enough to have done so.
He urged authorities involved in security issues to be guided by the rights of suspects and not to engage in practices that violates the rights of such persons.
Security Expert and Executive Director for the Africa Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (ACSIS), Paul Coonley Boateng, has corroborated the position taken by the Binduri MP.
He told Ghananewsonline.com.gh in an interview that it is not right to put out such confidential information of a suspect in the public domain.
“I am totally against displaying those things to the public. There are two things here. During investigations, those things should not be out, however, it can be known to the public when the case is in court,” the ACSIS Executive Director stressed.
The General Overseer of the Hezekiah Prayer Ministries, Prophet Kwabena Owusu Adjei after his arrest on Tuesday June 9, 2020 was found to be in possession of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
He was arrested during a live interview with Accra based Hot FM at a coded location in the national capital for threatening the life of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa and the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Subsequently, a urine test on the self-styled pastor came out positive for tramadol and cannabis.
According to the medical report signed by Police Superintendent Dr. Adwoa Nuru-Panin of the Police Hospital, Prophet Adjei tested negative for six of the drugs except cannabis and tramadol.
While delivering his ruling, the judge, Emmanuel Essandoh, reminded Ghanaians about hate speech as it could land them in jail.
The suspect has since been remanded by a circuit court in Accra.
By Francis Kobena Tandoh || ghananewsonline.com.gh