Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has refuted claims that President John Mahama directed him to discontinue the prosecution of high-profile cases. He emphasized that his decisions were made independently, without any external influence.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Ayine dismissed allegations that the President was interfering in legal processes.
“Those who are in haste to charge His Excellency the President of the Republic as a clearing agent should hasten slowly because he is not responsible for the prosecution,” he stated.
Reasons for Dropped Cases
Dr Ayine outlined three key reasons for discontinuing some cases:
- Ethical and professional considerations – He stated that he could not, in good conscience, continue to prosecute certain cases.
- Defective charges – His review of some cases showed that the charges were fundamentally flawed and lacked a legal basis.
- Lack of evidence – In some cases, including a bribery charge, there was no evidence to support prosecution.
He stressed that his decisions followed thorough consultation and diligent case reviews.
Banking Sector and Cocobod Cases
On the case involving Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Asiama, Dr Ayine referred to an internal memo from the Prosecutions Division, which advised against prosecution.
“The professional opinion of the Prosecution Division was very clear, that the charges against the Governor of the Bank of Ghana are unsustainable,” he said.
Regarding the Cocobod fertilizer case involving Dr. Stephen Opuni, he revealed that Cocobod officials testified that the fertilizer in question was highly effective and preferred by farmers over other alternatives.
Dr Ayine maintained that none of the individuals affected by his decisions had looted state resources and reiterated his commitment to upholding the rule of law.
