The Minority in Parliament has called on the Attorney-General, Mr Dominic Ayine, to desist from media prosecution of individuals alleged to have been involved in the embezzlement of state funds and allow the court to look into the issues.
Speaking at a press conference at Parliament yesterday, the Legal Advisor to the Minority and Member of Parliament for Suame, Mr John Darko, said the media prosecution by the Attorney-General created a negative perception in the minds of the citizenry about the individuals involved in the matter.
Additionally, he said the actions of the Attorney-General violated the fair trial principle under Article 19 of the 1992 Constitution.
“Under the guise of the Accountability Series, the Attorney-General has blatantly violated the privacy rights of persons involved in his investigations. Since assuming office as the Attorney-General, Mr Ayine and his team have gone to town with all manner of very serious allegations against the people he is investigating, even before the charges against them are filed in court,” Mr Darko said.
He added that,
“This media trial has created in the mind of an ordinary Ghanaian, the guilt of persons under investigation.”
Mr Darko further noted that the prosecution of individuals under investigation for alleged embezzlement of state funds in the media and through press conferences could influence the outcome of the cases pending before the court.
He emphasised that the Minority was not against accountability, but rather against the Attorney-General’s actions of pronouncing individuals guilty in the media even before they had the chance to open their cases.
Mr Darko also called on the Attorney-General to update the public on cases involving former officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“This Attorney-General calls these pressers accountability series. Well, can they update us on the many cases against the former NDC officials — Collins Dauda on the Saglemi Housing Project? Why is Johnson Asiamah Governor of the BoG? Ato Forson is Finance Minister? Why did they withdraw the cases against him? An accountable government should follow through and collect the monies these people embezzled,” Mr Darko stated.
— BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
