The Minority in Parliament has leveled serious allegations against the Attorney General, accusing him of abusing his office by ordering raids, arrests, and investigations into former government appointees. According to the Minority, the Attorney General’s role is to provide legal advice to investigative agencies and assist the court in dispensing justice, not to conduct his own investigations.
Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the Second Deputy Minority Whip, addressed journalists on Monday, March 24, calling on the Attorney General to immediately halt these actions. Shaib emphasized that the Attorney General is an officer of the court, and his current actions undermine the administration of justice.
“The Attorney General is not a prosecutor, and it’s not his duty to investigate,” Shaib stated. “His interest is to assist the court in dispensing justice when investigators bring their case and evidence. The posture of the new A-G undermines this rule. He is no longer acting as an officer of the court but instead acting as someone who has conducted his own inquisition, determined the guilt of a suspect, and is seeking to force his views on the court.”
The Minority also highlighted the recent raid on the residence of Dr. Ernest Addison, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana. The National Security Coordinator has since apologized for the raid, which the Minority claims was conducted unlawfully. Shaib questioned the legitimacy of the raid, asking why a court-issued warrant was not presented to Dr. Addison and why force was used to overpower his private security.
“If indeed a court-issued warrant existed, why was it not presented to Dr. Addison before or during the raid?” Shaib asked. “Why was the force used to overpower his private security? Why was the CCTV camera dismantled and taken away? Transparency is a hallmark that ensures lawful enforcement.”
The Minority’s accusations come amid concerns about the Attorney General’s conduct and the potential undermining of the rule of law. Shaib urged all well-meaning voices to call on the Attorney General to put an end to these actions immediately.
“The practice undermines the role of the attorney general and undermines the administration of justice,” Shaib stated. “All well-meaning voices that respect the operations of the rule of law should call on the attorney general to put an end to this immediately.”
