President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama was aware of Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine’s decision to withdraw high-profile cases, former Attorney-General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo has claimed.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, the former AG said the president and cabinet will ordinarily be interested in the cases and the chief government lawyer’s approach to them.
Since taking office last month, Attorney General Ayine has withdrawn some high-profile cases including one against businessman Richard Jakpa and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
He has also filed a nolle prosequi in the state’s case against Collins Dauda and four others, regarding the Saglemi housing project.
Elaborating on the reasoning behind dropping charges, the Attorney-General disclosed he had not spoken to the president about his decision.
“I take absolute responsibility for all the decisions taken so far. I am not under any instructions or pressure to discontinue any case or to bring charges against one. Those who are in a haste to tag the president as a clearing agent should hasten slowly because he is not responsible for prosecutions and has not directed me to drop any case,” Dr. Ayine said Wednesday at a press conference.
However, Ayikoi Otoo, who served as Attorney General hit out at the attempt to absolve President Mahama, saying he will not “buy” the assertion.
“I don’t buy everything that he has said but as a politician, I’ll tell you that he’s only played his role and to tell us that the president doesn’t know anything about it cannot be true.
“These are what you call high profile cases so usually not only the president, the entire cabinet would be interested in what the Attorney General in high-profile cases so everybody knows that the president is aware. He has informed the president about the position that he wanted to take and he has taken them,” the former Minister of Justice said.
In the meantime, watch as John Jinapor recounts ordeal after leaving office in 2017