Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has rebuked Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine for unilaterally halting multiple high-profile criminal trials without first seeking the approval of President John Dramani Mahama. He labeled the move as unsettling and harmful to the nation’s interests.

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Speaking to the media he stated “The people of Ghana should be very scared if we have an AG whose primary consideration in the discontinuation of criminal cases involving the loss of billions of Ghana cedis is the position of defence lawyers on charges preferred against their clients rather than the interest of the republic in the prosecution of crime.

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“Even more scary and bizarre is the claim of Dr Ayine that he did not consult President John Dramani Mahama before taking the monumental decisions to discontinue the criminal cases.”

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Dame emphasized the critical nature of the cases, stressing that they involve massive public funds and are tied to the banking sector collapse, which has had far-reaching consequences for Ghana’s economy.

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“The cases involve the loss of colossal sums of taxpayers’ monies, and some relate to the banking sector crisis which affected the Ghanaian economy,” he added.

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Dr. Ayine has defended his decision, citing three key considerations: ethical responsibilities, professional discretion, and insufficient prosecutorial evidence.

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Among the dismissed cases is that of Dr. Johnson Asiama, the acting Governor of the Bank of Ghana, who was previously implicated in the collapse of UniBank and UT Bank.

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Additionally, former NDC Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and Communications Officer Anthony Kwaku Boahen have been cleared of charges linked to an alleged leaked tape discussing politically motivated disruptions.

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The Attorney General has also withdrawn charges against Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and businessman Richard Jakpa in the contentious ambulance procurement case.

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The protracted legal proceedings involving former COCOBOD CEO Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo—accused of causing a financial loss of GH¢271 million through the Lithovit fertiliser deal—have also been halted.

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Similarly, allegations of financial mismanagement against former SSNIT boss Dr. Ernest Thompson and three others have been dismissed, although some individuals connected to the SSNIT and banking sector cases continue to face prosecution.

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Furthermore, the case against former Works and Housing Minister Collins Dauda and four others over alleged financial irregularities in the Saglemi Housing project has been discontinued through a nolle prosequi. Charges against Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ama Governor, and others have also been dropped.

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