Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has strongly criticised current Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine for unilaterally discontinuing several high-profile criminal cases without consulting President John Dramani Mahama.
He described this move as alarming and detrimental to the country’s justice system and fight against corruption.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Friday, February 14, Mr. Dame warned that Ghana’s legal system is at risk if the Attorney-General prioritises the arguments of defence lawyers over the state’s interest in prosecuting financial crimes.
“The people of Ghana should be very scared if we have an AG whose primary consideration in the discontinuation of criminal cases involving the loss of billions of Ghana cedis is the position of defence lawyers rather than the interest of the republic in ensuring justice,” he stated.
He expressed even greater concern over Dr. Ayine’s admission that he did not consult President Mahama before making these critical decisions.
“Even more scary and bizarre is the claim of Dr. Ayine that he did not consult President John Dramani Mahama before taking the monumental decisions to discontinue the criminal cases,” Mr. Dame emphasised.
Highlighting the gravity of the cases involved, he noted that many relate to the banking sector crisis, which significantly impacted the Ghanaian economy and involved the loss of vast amounts of taxpayers’ money.
Dr. Ayine has defended his actions, citing ethical, professional, and evidentiary concerns.
However, Mr. Dame insists that this move undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent where political interests dictate the fate of corruption-related cases.
His remarks have sparked a broader debate over the independence of the Attorney-General’s office and whether such prosecutorial decisions serve the best interests of the nation.