Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has called on his successor, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to present evidence of any memorandum advising the discontinuation of politically sensitive cases.
Speaking at a press conference at the Accra City Hotel, Mr. Dame strongly refuted Dr. Ayine’s claims that memos were discovered upon assuming office, which recommended that the previous Attorney General drop certain cases due to insufficient evidence.
Dr. Ayine had argued that these cases were politically motivated and aimed at members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, Mr. Dame dismissed these allegations, asserting that no such memo existed under his tenure and challenging the current Attorney General to present proof.
Mr. Dame expressed deep concern over what he described as an unprecedented wave of case withdrawals by Dr. Ayine, particularly in high-profile corruption cases.
He noted that no previous government had withdrawn cases involving financial losses to the state at such a scale, emphasizing that such actions could undermine Ghana’s justice system.
He also questioned the rationale behind the discontinuation of cases, particularly those related to the financial sector clean-up, the ambulance procurement scandal, and other corruption-related trials.
According to him, these cases had been thoroughly investigated by authorized state agencies, and their withdrawal raised serious ethical and legal concerns.
The former Attorney General stressed that criminal prosecutions should be guided by national interest rather than political convenience.
He suggested that the mass withdrawal of cases could embolden wrongdoing and set a dangerous precedent where successive governments could shield their associates from accountability.
Mr. Dame also refuted accusations that he had mishandled cases during his tenure, stating that all prosecutions under his leadership were based on thorough investigations and legal assessments by state prosecutors.
He further questioned why the Attorney General’s Office did not conduct broader consultations before withdrawing the cases.
He claimed that the discontinuation of such cases without proper engagement with key stakeholders, including the presidency and cabinet, was highly irregular.
“If the government believes that some cases should be discontinued, then there must be a transparent process in arriving at such decisions,” Mr. Dame said. “It should not be done in a manner that suggests political expediency rather than legal merit.”
The decision to withdraw several high-profile corruption cases has sparked widespread debate among legal practitioners, civil society groups, and political commentators. Many argue that it sets a dangerous precedent, while others believe the move is an attempt to correct politically motivated prosecutions from the previous administration.
With the controversy deepening, all eyes are now on Dr. Dominic Ayine to respond to Mr. Dame’s challenge by providing concrete evidence of any memos justifying the case withdrawals.
As Ghana navigates this unfolding legal and political storm, the outcome of this dispute will have lasting implications for the country’s judicial integrity and governance.
Whether Dr. Ayine will substantiate his claims with documented evidence remains to be seen, but for now, the accusations and counter-accusations continue to dominate national discourse.
