The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine has cautioned critics against hastily labeling President John Mahama as a ‘clearing agent’.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, February 12, he asked the critics to hasten slowly noting that his office operates independently.
“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,” he said.
Dr Ayine explained that he consulted widely and reviewed the files diligently before deciding on each of the seven cases that were discontinued.
His comment comes on the heels of renowned investigative journalist Manasseh Awuni Azure’s criticism of President Mahama over the decision to discontinue some cases involving some persons linked to the NDC.
According to him, Mr Mahama’s mass discontinuation of court cases proves that he is more interested in protecting political allies than ensuring justice.
“I nicknamed Akufo-Addo the Chief Clearing Agent, and Mahama seems to relish that title,” Azure remarked.
In a Facebook post on Monday, February 10, he warned that Mahama’s current actions are repeating that same pattern, which undermines accountability.
Read also: “Chief Clearing Agent” title now belongs to Mahama – Manasseh Azure
However, Dr Ayine clarified that the president is not behind the discontinuation of cases as he takes full responsibility.
Dr Ayine explained that the office of the Attorney General came to those conclusions after a thorough professional examination of all the cases.
He further explained that, apart from a single bribery charge in the Opuni case—where no evidence was presented—none of the individuals affected by his decisions have looted state resources.
He distinguished between the offense of causing financial loss to the state and the more severe charges of bribery, corruption, or using public office for private gain.
“In the latter offences, the individual charged can be accurately labeled as looters. In the former, it would be thoroughly unfair and defamatory to label the accused as persons who have looted state resources,” Dr Ayine explained.
Read also: I take full responsibility, Mahama didn’t direct me to drop cases – AG
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