Collins Dauda
The new Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has been busy in his first month since assuming office, notably dropping the trials of some former appointees of the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Office of the Attorney General has since the final week of January 2025, discontinued five major trials against the former NDC appointees who, according to the previous Attorney General, had caused over GH¢1.08 billion, $214.8 million and €2.37 million financial loss to the state in various transactions.
The AG has also dropped the trial of a former National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and a Communication Officer of the party, Anthony Kweku Boahen, who were charged for allegedly planning to assault the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) and some officials of the Peace Council.
These decisions have sparked discussions among Ghanaians, with some indicating it was the right thing to do while others say the decisions defeat the fight against corruption.
The truncated case that has generated the most controversy is that of a former 2nd Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, who was reappointed as Acting Governor of the Central Bank, barely two days after the charges were dropped against him.
The only case pending against a known figure affiliated with the NDC is the trial of Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, who is accused of deceit, forgery, among others.
But it is just a matter of time before the case is withdrawn, as the prosecution is set to close its case on February 12, 2025.
Opuni/Agongo
The Attorney General on January 28, 2025, withdrew the trial of former Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr. Stephen Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo, who were charged for causing over GH¢217 million financial loss to the state in a contract to purchase Lithovit fertiliser.
The two had been standing trial since March 2018, with both the prosecution and Dr. Opuni closing their cases.
Mr. Agongo was on his ninth witness when the charges were withdrawn, leading the court to acquit and discharge them as prescribed by Section 59 (2)(b)(ii) of Act 30.
Ato Forson/Jakpa
On January 29, 2025, the Office of the Attorney General filed a motion at the Supreme Court indicating its intension to discontinue an appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal which set aside the decision of a High Court to ask Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa to open their defence in the ambulance trial.
This brought an end to the trial in which the two had been accused of causing financial loss of €2.37 million in a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ambulance Service through the Ministry of Health.
Ofosu Ampofo/Kwaku Boahen
The Attorney General then filed a notice of withdrawal of the case of the former National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Kweku Boahen, who were captured on a leaked tape planning to assault the EC boss and some officials of the Peace Council.
Ofosu Ampofo was later appointed as a Policy Adviser for Political Affairs at the Office of the Vice President.
Dr. Asiama
Then on January 29, 2025, the AG dropped the charges against Dr. Asiama, who was standing trial in two separate cases – UT Bank and uniBank where he was accused of approving a total of GH¢863 million for the two defunct banks during his tenure as 2nd Deputy Governor without going through laid down procedures.
Two days later, he was appointed the Acting Governor of the Central Bank, attracting massive criticism from many quarters, particularly the Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) which says it will petition the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the appointment.
Collins Dauda
On February 7, 2025, the Attorney General filed a nolle prosequi to discontinue the trial of former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Collins Dauda and three others.
They were standing trial for willfully causing financial loss to the state in the $200 million Saglemi Housing project scandal.
This, however, leaves them in a precarious situation as another Attorney General could charge the four again should there be a change in government.
Ernest Thompson
On that same day, the Attorney General withdrew the charges against a Director-General of Social Security and National Insurance Trust Fund (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson and three others who were accused of causing over $14.8 million financial loss to the state in the Operational Business Suite (OBS) project.
The withdrawal did not include Caleb Afaglo, a one-time General Manager of Management Information Systems at SSNIT, who has been accused of forging his academic certificate.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak