Former Attorney General Godfred Dame has expressed deep concern over the recent decision by his successor, Dr Dominic Ayine, to discontinue several high-profile criminal cases.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, February 14, 2025, Mr Dame warned that Ghanaians should be “very scared” about the implications of such actions on the rule of law and national accountability.
The cases, which involved the loss of billions of Ghana cedis, were abruptly withdrawn by Dr Ayine upon the assumption of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, a move that Mr Dame claims lacks any justifiable reasoning.
He pointed out that the Attorney General’s explanations for the discontinuation of the cases were merely restatements of arguments made by defence counsel in court rather than an independent assessment of the merits of the cases.
“The people of Ghana should be very scared that we have an Attorney General whose prime consideration in prosecuting criminal cases involving massive financial losses is the position of defence lawyers rather than the interest of the Republic,” Dame declared.
Even more alarming, according to Mr Dame, is Dr Ayine’s claim that he did not consult President John Dramani Mahama before making the decision.
The former AG questioned this assertion, suggesting that it was highly unlikely given the NDC’s well-known stance on the banking crisis.
“A careful examination of the facts shows that this view is palpably untrue. The nation has not forgotten the loud claims of President John Mahama and the NDC that the NPP was responsible for the collapse of the banking sector and that, upon assuming power, an NDC government would restore all banking licenses,” he stated.
Mr Dame further alleged that the withdrawals were part of a grand scheme to whitewash individuals whose actions contributed to the collapse of the banking sector, which led to economic hardship for many Ghanaians.
“The withdrawal of the cases in question is the beginning of the whitewashing process of those whose actions led to the crisis that plagued the banking sector,” he asserted.
He called on Ghanaians to remain vigilant and demand transparency from the Attorney General’s office.
“The people of Ghana should indeed be extremely concerned and afraid that prosecutorial authority has been vested in a person who clears cases from court without discussing with the President of the Republic and members of Cabinet,” he warned.
