AG takes full responsibility, denies presidential influence in recent case withdrawals

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has asserted that he alone is accountable for the discontinuation of several high-profile cases, emphasizing that President John Dramani Mahama had no role in directing those decisions.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, February 12, Dr. Ayine clarified that the decision to drop the seven cases followed a meticulous legal assessment by his office.

"As Attorney General, I take full responsibility for every decision made thus far. No directives or external pressure have influenced my choices, whether to drop a case or to pursue prosecution. Those quick to label the President as a 'clearing agent' should reconsider their stance—he is not responsible for prosecutorial decisions and has played no role in these withdrawals."

Dr. Ayine further explained that his decisions were not made lightly, as they resulted from extensive consultations and thorough file reviews. He pointed out that in cases such as those involving SSNIT and the banking sector, charges were withdrawn against some accused persons while others remained under review.

Among the seven dismissed cases is that of Johnson Asiama, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and now Acting Governor, who was previously implicated in the collapse of UniBank and UT Bank.

The charges against former Minority Leader and current Finance Minister Ato Forson, as well as Richard Jakpa, in the ambulance procurement case were also dropped.

Additionally, the long-running trial of former COCOBOD CEO Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo—who faced accusations of causing a financial loss of GH¢271 million through the Lithovit foliar fertilizer deal—was discontinued.

Similarly, former SSNIT boss Dr. Ernest Thompson and three others, previously accused of financial mismanagement, saw their charges withdrawn. However, Dr. Ayine noted that certain individuals in the SSNIT and banking cases were still facing prosecution.

In another instance, former Works and Housing Minister Collins Dauda and four others had their financial misconduct case concerning the Saglemi Housing Project dismissed under a nolle prosequi ruling.

Furthermore, cases involving activists such as Oliver Barker-Vormawor and Ama Governor were also dropped, reigniting discussions on protest rights and political freedoms. 

Meanwhile, former NDC Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Communications Officer Anthony Kwaku Boahen were cleared of charges linked to an alleged leaked recording that purportedly plotted political violence.