Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine has firmly defended the search of former Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor Dr. Ernest Addison’s residence, dismissing claims that it was unlawful.

Speaking to the media on Monday, March 24, Dr. Ayine clarified that the operation was carried out with a valid High Court warrant. He explained that the search aimed to locate and secure items suspected to be linked to criminal activities.

He also responded to criticism from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who had condemned the government’s actions. Dr Ayine cautioned the MP against undermining law enforcement and stated that he is willing to release a recording of Addison’s comments on the operation if necessary.

Defending the legality of the search, the Attorney General questioned why some individuals believed they should be exempt from legal investigations.

“How come a search of the governor’s house, based on credible intelligence, is now being labeled as a raid? I was the one who applied for the warrant, and it was issued by the High Court. Why is that now a problem? Are some people above the law? No one is above the law in this country,” he stated.

Dr. Ayine further explained that the operation was not a “raid” but a lawful search conducted under the Constitution. He emphasized that Article 18 permits such actions as long as they follow legal procedures.

He also accused Afenyo-Markin of trying to damage the reputation of law enforcement agencies. Addressing allegations that officials took GHS 10,000 during the search, Dr. Ayine dismissed the claim as baseless and offensive. He also warned against using parliamentary immunity to spread false accusations against public officials.

“The constitutional immunity granted to MPs does not mean they should abuse that privilege to defame law enforcement officers conducting lawful investigations,” he said.In a direct challenge to Afenyo-Markin, Dr. Ayine revealed that his office has an audio recording of Dr. Addison discussing the search.

“We have a recording of Addison and what he said about the raid. If the Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin, is daring me, I’ll make that public. He should desist from maligning law enforcement officers and myself,” he warned.

Dr. Ayine further asserted his authority as the leader of the legal profession, vowing to act within ethical and legal boundaries while ensuring justice is served.