Minority slams AG for ‘media trial’ of accused persons

The Minority in Parliament has accused the Attorney General of violating the constitutional rights of accused persons by publicly branding them as criminals before their cases are decided in court.

Addressing journalists in Parliament, the Minority’s Legal Counsel and MP for Suame, John Darko, said the Attorney General’s recent comments on ongoing prosecutions amounted to “declaring suspects guilty before a fair trial”.

His remarks come after the Attorney General reportedly described the former CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP as “lawless looters” engaged in criminal acts.

The Minority argued that such statements erode public trust in the justice system and violate the principle of presumption of innocence.

“Competent Attorneys General don’t prosecute cases in the media, present the evidence in court and let the law take its course. Why damage reputations in public before the accused have a chance to defend themselves?,” Mr. Darko quizzed.

He also cautioned journalists against amplifying what he called a “populist agenda” by the Attorney General, warning that such actions could weaken constitutional safeguards.

“When you publish and amplify these statements, you help violate the Constitution, these breaches must not be tolerated, they are gradually tearing down our constitutional guardrails,” he said.

The Minority has therefore called for the Attorney General to be restrained and reminded to conduct prosecutions strictly within the limits of the law and the courtroom.