Former Attorney General and Minister for Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame has accused the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and his successor of using state power to target and punish political opponents.
Mr Dame said the use of arrests, investigations and prosecutorial powers for political purposes represents a serious low point for law enforcement in Ghana.
“The deployment of state power to settle scores and punish political opponents is the lowest point of law enforcement,” Mr Dame said in a statement on Saturday.
He described what he considers the conduct of the institutions over the past two years as a “gross and awkward exploitation” of their legal powers.
“The gross and awkward exploitation of the power of arrests, investigations and prosecutorial discretion by the EOCO, CID and the Attorney-General over the past two years is certainly unprecedented,” he stated.
His comments follow the detention of Manhyia South MP and lawyer Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah by EOCO.
Baffour Awuah voluntarily surrendered to EOCO on Thursday, October 1, after the High Court issued a warrant for his arrest and authorised searches as part of an ongoing investigation.
EOCO said the MP was arrested after surrendering and that he was cooperating with investigators.
The investigation concerns allegations including criminal conspiracy, financial loss to SIC Savings and Loans, money laundering and tax-related offences.
However, Mr Dame questioned why the MP had spent two nights in EOCO custody without being granted bail.
“On what account does Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah (MP) spend two nights in EOCO custody without bail when being investigated for a “transaction” from which he earned legal fees of GH¢2.2M?” he asked.
“In any event, are the issues raised from his conduct in the matter criminal?” he added.
Mr Dame compared Baffour Awuah’s detention with cases involving former ministers and an MP under previous administrations, arguing that they were granted bail without spending time in custody.
He cited former Minister for Works and Housing Alhaji Collins Dauda, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and Dr Dominic Ayine.
“Thus, Alhaji Collins Dauda was granted self-recognisance bail. He never spent a single day in custody even though he stood trial for causing financial loss in the sum of about US$198 million,” he said.
He also referred to Ato Forson, saying he “was granted self-recognisance bail without spending a single day in custody even though he stood trial for offences with a value of US€2.3million.”
Mr Dame said Dr Ayine was similarly granted bail in 2017 while being investigated over his role in the Ameri deal.
“Dr Dominic Ayine (MP), in 2017, was granted bail and never spent a single day in custody when he was investigated for his role in the Ameri deal,” he stated.
Mr Dame argued that the actions of some state institutions raise concerns about the use of investigative and prosecutorial powers.
“It is correct to say that the investigative and prosecutorial authority of certain state institutions is being utilised to punish political opponents and settle parochial scores,” he added.
He further criticised law-enforcement agencies for what he described as a misplaced focus, arguing that serious organised crime continues to thrive while political opponents and critics are pursued.
“Meanwhile, real organised and economic crime like the narcotic trade reigns supreme in Ghana. The investigative bodies are busily chasing political opponents and suppressing free speech,” Mr Dame stated.
