Plea bargaining will not shield people from prosecution — Tuah-Yeboah
While plea bargaining agreements have been used to deliver justice in various countries, the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice will not shield anyone from prosecution, a Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has said.
“Let me put this on record, that, under no circumstance will our office resort to plea bargain agreements with perpetrators of crime to shield them from prosecution.
“Where there is a need to undertake a full trial to ensure justice is administered, that with no shred of doubt will be done,” he said.
Mr Tuah-Yeboah was speaking at a day’s sensitisation workshop on its work processes and the plea bargaining law for officers of various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Accra.
Participants were also schooled on the role of MDAs and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in helping the ministry to effectively defend the state in civil suits to avoid judgment debts, among other issues.
A Principal State Attorney at the Public Prosecution Division, Richard Gyambibi; a Principal State Attorney at the Civil Division, Nancynetta Twumasi Asiamah, and a State Attorney at the Legislative Draft Division, Jane Elinam Tagbor, took turns to educate the participants on the work processes of the ministry.
Expectation
Mr Tuah-Yeboah expressed the hope that at the end of the programme, participants would be sensitised to the growing concerns of the people on the plea bargaining law.
The participants
He expressed his commitment to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the Plea-Bargaining Law truly served its purpose.
Collaboration
Mrs Asiamah emphasised the critical role of MDAs in defending civil suits in the country.
She said as the principal legal representative of the government, the Attorney-General often assumed the role of lawyer for MDAs in civil cases, yet the responsibility of providing timely comments and documentation frequently fell short.
“When cases are brought to us, it often feels as if they are solely the responsibility of the A-G, rather than a collective effort with the MDAs.
“You may have a strong case, but without proper evidence and records, you cannot defend it,” Mrs Asiamah added.
She, therefore, urged the MDAs to engage proactively in the process by providing detailed comments on cases and meticulous record-keeping, including memos and receipts to support civil cases and ensure accountability.
Mrs Asiamah further advised MDAs to consult with their respective municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies (MMDAs) when entering agreements, saying that prudent consultations could prevent future legal issues.