John Darko
The Minority in Parliament has berated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for what they describe as an unprecedented effort to protect its leading members from criminal accountability.
According to the Minority, the government, through the Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has been withdrawing charges against key NDC officials, effectively clearing them of serious financial crimes.
Addressing the media in Parliament, the Minority, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Suame, John Darko, said the Attorney General, in recent weeks, had dismissed charges against several NDC bigwigs, including Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Anthony Kwaku Boahen, Stephen Opuni, and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
According to the NPP Minority, the withdrawal of charges, particularly in the case of The Republic vs Ato Forson & Richard Jakpa, where the AG also reversed an appeal to the Supreme Court, has raised concerns about the integrity of the justice system.
The Minority claimed that these cases stemmed from thorough investigations and were backed by recommendations from career prosecutors in the Office of the Attorney General.
The charges were brought after evidence suggested the loss of hundreds of billions of Ghana Cedis due to the actions of the accused, Mr. Darko stated.
By withdrawing the charges under Section 59(2)(b) ii of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, the Minority accused the Attorney General of effectively acting as both the prosecutor and the judge, ensuring acquittals and shielding NDC officials from future prosecution.
This move, they argued, denies the state the chance to recover the financial losses caused by the accused individuals, and raises concerns about the political influence over the judiciary.
The Minority condemned this as an “unprecedented act of clearing and whitewashing,” claiming that the withdrawal of charges shows that the NDC government is prioritising the protection of its members over the pursuit of justice.
Instead, the NPP government pushed for trials to be completed, and officials of the Kufuor era faced the full weight of the law.
The Minority suggested that the NDC government’s actions demonstrate a double standard, where leading political figures are treated differently from ordinary citizens facing prosecution.
According to the Minority, the appointment of some of the accused to high-profile government positions only deepens the controversy.
For instance, they said Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson was named Finance Minister shortly after charges against him were dropped, while Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo was also appointed to a senior position within the Vice President’s office.
These appointments, the Minority argued, signal a blatant disregard for the principles of justice and have further undermined the public’s confidence in the government’s commitment to transparency.
The Minority called for the Attorney General to provide an explanation for his unprecedented actions, particularly regarding why these specific cases were singled out for withdrawal.
They also demanded clarity on why the accused individuals were granted immunity from future prosecution, and called on the government to uphold the rule of law.
“If leading NDC officials are treated differently from ordinary Ghanaians, what does this say about our country’s commitment to equality before the law?” they quizzed.
The Minority warned that such actions could lead to widespread public disillusionment with the administration of justice in Ghana.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House