A major storm is brewing following reports that the Attorney General (AG) has directed the Madina District Court to discontinue the prosecution of the individual standing trial for the 2019 murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
The directive, which effectively discharges the accused person, has drawn furious condemnation from civil society groups, who describe the action as a “clear obstruction of justice” and a profound blow to accountability in the country.
‘A Sad and Shameful Day’ for Press Freedom
In a sharply worded public statement titled “JUSTICE FOR AHMED SUALE”, the pressure group Economic Fighters League (EFL) vehemently condemned the Attorney General’s alleged instruction, linking it to what they term a “growing trend of flagrant abuse of nolle prosequi”.
Ahmed Suale, a key member of the Tiger Eye P.I. investigative team, was brutally assassinated on January 16, 2019, in Madina, Accra, following his work on the famous ‘Number 12’ exposé on corruption in African football.
His murder has remained one of the most high-profile unresolved crimes against journalists globally.
“The Economic Fighters League condemns this directive in the strongest possible terms. We view this action as a clear obstruction of justice and an affront to the rule of law, accountability, and the right to a fair trial,” the statement released by Commander-In-Chief of the EFL, Ernesto Yeboah, noted.
The EFL did not mince words regarding the wider implications for the nation.
“This is a sad and shameful day for press freedom, for justice, and for Ghana’s already fragile democracy.”
Accusations of Nolle Prosequi Abuse and Impunity
The group’s anger is rooted in the perceived pattern of the AG’s office utilising its constitutional power to enter a nolle prosequi (a formal notice of abandonment of prosecution by the state).
The EFL asserts that this power is being misused to shield alleged offenders in politically sensitive cases.
“The office of the Attorney General has, in recent times, filed and closed more cases under nolle prosequi effectively freeing alleged suspects and plausible criminals, than it has secured convictions against individuals who have maimed, murdered, polluted our rivers and forests, or caused financial loss to the state and people of Ghana.”
This trend, the EFL argues, “represents a deep rot within Ghana’s justice system. It is not only lazy governance; it is a betrayal of the people’s trust and a major blow to the national reset agenda.”
The reports from the Madina District Court suggest that the AG’s decision to discontinue the case against the accused, Daniel Owusu Koranteng, stemmed from an assessment that the police investigation failed to provide sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Political Aspirations and Demand for Oversight
A chilling element in the EFL’s statement is the insinuation of a political cover-up.
The group noted with “grave concern” that “would-be persons of interest in the Ahmed Suale murder case are likely to present themselves for election to high political positions.”
The EFL insists that the pursuit of justice must precede any political advancement for such individuals.
“It is imperative that this case be expedited, reopened, and concluded transparently before any such individuals are allowed to contest for public office. Justice must not be deferred for the sake of politics.”
In a direct appeal to the legislature and the executive, the EFL called for immediate action.
“The Economic Fighters League therefore calls on the President and the Parliament of Ghana to immediately exercise their constitutional oversight responsibilities over the unruly and compromised office of the Attorney General.”
The group concluded with a powerful challenge to the Ghanaian media fraternity.
“We further call on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to abandon its usual posture of polite press releases and convene an emergency assembly of the media fraternity… If the state can casually discard the pursuit of justice for a murdered journalist, then no journalist in Ghana is safe.”
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