Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame has criticised Dr Dominic Ayine, current Attorney General for rationalising his decision to discontinue the prosecution of some high profile National Democratic Congress (NDC) men.
According to the Former Attorney General and Minster of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayini, the Attorney General (AG), in a rather unconventional manner, had maligned him andâŻpeddled a host of untruths, half-truths and misinformation against him.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr Yeboah Dame stated that throughout his tenure as Attorney-General, he never made any comment or passed judgment on the work of any of his predecessors even though he was often at the receiving end of manyâŻunsavoury remarks from sections of the populace, particularly, personalities inâŻthe National Democratic Congress (NDC).
âSince leaving office, I have also stayed clear of subjecting the workâŻof my successor to any form of assessment, leaving that to discerningâŻGhanaians to do,â he said.
Mr Dame disclosed that since Dr Ayine was sworn in as Attorney General on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, by Friday, January 24, 2025, heâŻabandoned the appeal by the State in RepublicâŻvrs. Ato Forson and two others.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Dr Ayine withdrew theâŻcase against Dr. Stephen Opuni and 2 Others, resulting in the complete whitewash of their âcrimesâ by an acquittal and discharge through the backdoor. OnâŻ29th January 2025, he entered another withdrawal in Republic Vrs. Ofosu Ampofo & another, again resulting in an acquittal and discharge of theâŻaccused.
On 30th January, 2025, Dr. Ayine withdrew two different cases againstâŻDr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, resulting in his acquittal and discharge in one andâŻa discharge in the other, he said.
He said there were more withdrawals and nolle prosequi toâŻbe entered by the NDC government through the Attorney-General in theâŻsubsequent days.
Mr Dame also stated that these developments irresistibly pointed to only one conclusionâŻ- a calculated, preconceived ploy on the part of the NDC to wipe out all criminalâŻcases pending against its leading members and officials of the John MahamaâŻGovernment and clear them of wrongdoing, not by the courts, but through theirâŻAttorney-General.
He said there is no precedent for this kind of conduct in the FourthâŻRepublic, adding that throughout the two 8-year terms of the NPP in Government, noâŻAttorney-General appointed by either President J. A. Kufuor or PresidentâŻAkufo-Addo withdrew criminal charges or filed nolle prosequi in casesâŻinvolving leading members of the NPP or senior members of the government.
He explained that by the time the NPP assumed power in 2017, all the cases filed by the erstwhileâŻNDC government against some Ministers and appointees of the Kufuor government had been contested fully in the courts and won.
âWe securedâŻacquittals through the courts, and not by resorting to delay tactics in the hopeâŻthat an Akufo-Addo appointed Attorney-General would come and withdrawâŻthe cases and procure an acquittal,â he added.