Former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has strongly criticized his successor, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, over the recent discontinuation of several high-profile criminal cases involving former government officials.
In a detailed statement issued on Friday, Dame described Ayine’s actions as a “calculated, preconceived ploy” by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to clear its members of wrongdoing.
He questioned the legal and ethical grounds for Ayine’s decisions, arguing that they undermine Ghana’s justice system.
Dr. Ayine, who assumed office on January 22, 2025, quickly moved to withdraw multiple cases, including those against Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr. Stephen Opuni, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama. Dame argued that these moves were politically motivated and lacked proper prosecutorial justification.
Judiciary Under Attack?
The former AG also took issue with Ayine’s remarks about the judiciary, suggesting that the criticisms were part of a broader NDC strategy to discredit judges and justify case withdrawals.
Dame defended the judicial processes that had already determined that some of the accused had cases to answer.
“Unprecedented Conduct”
Dame accused Ayine of setting a dangerous precedent, highlighting that under previous governments, criminal cases against political figures were allowed to proceed through the courts.
He also refuted claims that ethical concerns justified dropping certain cases, arguing that if Ayine had conflicts of interest, he should have delegated the prosecutions rather than terminating them.
Calls for Transparency
Dame challenged Ayine to produce evidence of consultations with the Attorney-General’s office before making the withdrawals, stating that key state prosecutors were not adequately consulted. He also criticized the reliance on defense counsel’s perspectives in making prosecutorial decisions.
With the NDC government under scrutiny for these legal maneuvers, political and legal analysts say the controversy could have long-term implications for Ghana’s justice system. The Attorney-General’s office has yet to respond to Dame’s accusations.
