Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Godfred Dame has accused the John Mahama government of using the discontinuation of high-profile criminal cases as a deliberate strategy to clear its officials of wrongdoing.
Mr Dame criticised the recent withdrawal of high-profile cases, arguing that it is part of a calculated attempt to whitewash officials of the previous Mahama government.
He said this at a press conference on Friday, February 14, 2025, in response to the current A-G’s explanation of the government’s decision to discontinue some criminal cases that have been running for years.
“These developments irresistibly point to only one conclusion, a calculated preconceived ploy on the part of the NDC to wipe out all criminal cases pending against its leading members and officials in the John Mahama government, declare them of wrongdoing, not by the court, but through their Attorney General,” he said.
His comments come after the Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine dropped some seven cases involving former government appointees, raising concerns about the commitment to fighting corruption.
While the A-G has defended the discontinuation of cases, claiming they lack merit and are politically motivated, Mr Dame insists that due process must be allowed to take its course.
He further noted that this approach has no precedent in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
The former Justice Minister stressed that it sets a dangerous precedent for governance and the rule of law.
“Remarkably, there’s no precedent for this kind of conduct in the fourth republic.”
