Charges were defective; evidence fell short for convictions— A-G justifies case withdrawals

Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine has said defective charges, insufficient evidence, and ethical reasons caused him to discontinue some high-profile cases.

Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine has justified his decision to discontinue some high-profile cases against state officials, including Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Asiama.

President John Dramani Mahama and Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine, upon resumption of office, have dropped several high-profile legal cases.

Their act has caused disaffection from a section of the public, demanding the Attorney-General provide reasons for his decision to discontinue these cases.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the A-G explained that the charges against these accused persons in the cases were defective, and by professional and ethical means, there were no valid reasons to continue with the cases.

Dr. Ayine added that evidence adduced in these cases fell significantly short of what was required to convict the accused persons.

 

“…no new evidence has been provided to me since I assumed office as attorney general to cause me to abandon my professional convictions,” he stated.

“The second reason why I dropped some of the charges on the above case is that the charges were defective, and upon scrutiny, they were filed against the prompting of plain common sense,” Dr. Ayine remarked.

The Minister of Justice noted that for these reasons, he found it needless and a “waste of state resources” to continue with the cases.

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azuri Awuni has, for example, labelled Mahama as the “Chief Clearing Agent” in his article, demanding transparency on why these cases were discontinued.

Other legal practitioners and the minority MPs disagreed with the A-G’s decision, labelling it as merely a political act.

The seven discontinued cases:

1. BoG Deputy Governor Johnson Asiamah Cleared

The Attorney-General withdrew all charges against former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Asiamah, who was implicated in the collapse of UniBank and UT Bank.

2. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa’s Case Dropped

The government discontinued its appeal at the Supreme Court regarding the case against Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and businessman Richard Jakpa.

3. COCOBOD Case—Opuni and Seidu Agongo Freed

Charges against Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo were dropped after they were accused of causing GH¢271 million in financial loss through the Lithovit foliar fertilizer scandal.

4. SSNIT Case—Ex-Director General and Others Cleared

The Attorney-General withdrew charges against former SSNIT boss Dr. Ernest Thompson and three others accused of financial mismanagement.

5. Saglemi Housing Project—Charges Against Collins Dauda Dropped

Former Works and Housing Minister Collins Dauda and four others had their financial misconduct case dismissed with a nolle prosequi filing.

6. Democracy Hub Protesters—No Charges for Barker-Vormawor & Ama Governor

Activists Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ama Governor, and others had their cases dropped, reigniting debates on protest rights and political suppression.

7. Leaked Tape Case—NDC’s Ofosu Ampofo Cleared

Former NDC Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Communications Officer Anthony Kwaku Boahen were freed from charges related to a leaked recording allegedly plotting political violence