The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has come under intense public scrutiny following the withdrawal of certain high-profile criminal cases, many involving politically exposed individuals – the recent one being the Republic vrs Duffour & 7 others.
Anytime a nolle prosequi (Latin for “there shall be no prosecution”) is filed by the AG’s office, public debate comes up over prosecutorial independence and accountability while sharpening public perception about the politicisation of justice in Ghana.
Supporters of the AG’s decision argue that many of these withdrawn cases were politically motivated, initiated not on the strength of evidence but out of a desire to hound perceived opponents of the erstwhile administration. In their view, the discontinuations are part of a broader effort to decongest the justice system of politicised dockets and refocus on cases that genuinely meet the prosecutorial threshold.
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In February 2025, the Attorney General, in exercising his mandate, corroborated the stance taken by supporters of the accused persons when he explained reasons for discontinuing certain criminal cases. Maintaining his posture from when he represented the former chairman of the NDC, Ofosu Ampofo, during his trial.
What does this mean for you?
On one hand, the Attorney-General is saying some of these prosecutions were politically motivated - just cases cooked up by previous governments to embarrass their opponents. So, according to him, dropping the cases is simply correcting a wrong.
But on the other hand, what ordinary people are seeing is that any time someone close to the government is in trouble, the state suddenly loses interest in pursuing justice. And yet, when it's someone from the opposition or someone without political backing, the same legal system seems very quick to act.
So to the layman, the question is:
Why is it always the powerful and well-connected who get to walk away?
And why does justice seem to stop where political loyalty begins?
At the heart of it, many people are feeling that Ghana’s justice system is becoming one-sided - and that’s a dangerous perception for a democracy.
Also, you can loot and just pay back 60% after your dividends pay out and that's simply okay.
“My involvement in the case of Republic v. Ofosu Ampofo & Another is a matter of public record. At the initial stages of the trial, I was on record as counsel with the venerable Tony Lithur and my former boss, the Honourable Marietta Brew. It was our position as a team that the charges against the Honourable Ofosu Ampofo were trumped up and motivated purely by politics. I still stand by that view,” he stated during a press conference on justification for decision to drop charges.
But critics are not convinced. Civil society groups, opposition voices, and anti-corruption advocates say the decision reeks of selective justice and institutional shielding. They argue that many of these cases involve individuals affiliated with or sympathetic to the current government, and truncating the legal processes sends the wrong signal.
Subsequently, if the current government’s claim that persons being prosecuted in the banking sector clean-up were politically targeted and had done nothing wrong, why did Dr. Duffour offer to pay 60% of the alleged loot in exchange for truncating their prosecutions?
Why pay for something you’re not guilty of when prosecution can continue to subsequently clear your name?
Regardless, here is a breakdown of the nine controversial cases that have been dropped so far by the state’s attorney:
Collins Dauda – Former Minister for Works and Housing – $200 million
Charge: 70 counts of causing financial loss to the state.
This case centred on alleged financial mismanagement and irregularities surrounding the Saglemi affordable housing initiative. Prosecutors under the Akufo-Addo administration claimed that former Ministers Collins Dauda and Kweku Agyeman-Mensah, along with Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, the former Chief Director of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing, were instrumental in the project’s planning and execution.
They were accused of actions that led to significant financial losses to the state. Also charged were Nouvi Tetteh Angelo and the late Andrew Clocanas, both linked to procurement and contractual breaches that allegedly undermined the project’s integrity.
Dr Johnson Asiama – Former Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana – GH¢450 million
Charge: Facing charges alongside Dr Kwabena Duffuor over alleged dishonest spending of funds belonging to customers and investors of the defunct uniBank Ghana Limited.
The case stemmed from the government’s 2017–2018 banking sector clean-up, which saw the collapse of several indigenous banks, including uniBank—founded by Dr. Kwabena Duffuor—and UT Bank, founded by Prince Kofi Amoabeng.
Dr. Johnson Asiama, a former Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, was charged with:
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Breach of Section 46(h) of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612)
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Breach of Section 46A of the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918)
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Causing financial loss to the state
He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted bail by the High Court in Accra.
According to the prosecution, Dr. Asiama oversaw the unlawful disbursement of over GH¢450 million to uniBank without adhering to the required regulatory procedures. However, he denied any wrongdoing, stating that the payments were made based on technical advice provided by the Banking Supervision Department.
Dr Ernest Thompson – Former Director-General of SSNIT – $66 million
Charge: Financial impropriety and causing financial loss to the state.
Originally valued at $34 million, the SSNIT OBS contract allegedly ballooned to $66 million following additional payments approved during Dr. Thompson’s tenure.
The project, known as the SSNIT Operational Business Suite (OBS), was designed to modernize the Trust’s operations through an integrated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) system.
Cassiel Ato Forson – Former Deputy Finance Minister & Businessman Richard Jakpa – €2.37 million
Charge: Causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state.
The case was originally initiated by the Attorney General’s office under the NPP administration. However, in July 2024, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, citing fundamental legal flaws in the prosecution’s case.
With the change in government, the Attorney General’s office under the Mahama-led NDC administration has opted to withdraw its appeal, one he cited as initiated to save face – effectively bringing the case to a close.
Samuel Ofosu Ampofo – Former NDC Chairman & Communication Officer Anthony Kwaku Boahen
Charge: Allegedly conspiring to incite violence against political opponents and key public figures, based on a leaked audio recording.
The alleged audio recording captured discussions about kidnappings, arson, and planned attacks on public officials, including Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council, and Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
The two accused were charged with conspiracy to cause harm, but the case has since been dismissed.
Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni – Former CEO of COCOBOD & Businessman Seidu Agongo – GH¢271.3 million
Charge: 27 counts including: Defrauding the state by false pretences; Wilfully causing financial loss to the state; Violating public procurement laws.
Seidu Agongo, CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited, was accused of fraudulently supplying substandard fertiliser to COCOBOD, allegedly with the support of Dr. Stephen Opuni, former CEO of the cocoa regulator.
The fertiliser was reportedly not properly tested before distribution, resulting in poor yields for cocoa farmers. The prosecution, which began the case in March 2018, claimed the alleged actions caused a financial loss of GH¢271.3 million to the state.
Both Agongo and Dr. Opuni pleaded not guilty and were granted bail of GH¢300,000 each, with their passports seized as part of their bail conditions. The state has since withdrawn all charges, resulting in their acquittal and discharge.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor – #FixTheCountry Activist
Charges: Conspiracy to commit an unlawful act; Unlawful assembly; Causing unlawful damage; Offensive conduct likely to breach the peace; Assault on a public officer; Defacement of a public notice.
Charges stemmed from his involvement in anti-government protests, where he allegedly incited unlawful actions.
Democracy Hub Anti-Galamsey Protesters
Charge: Arrested during anti-illegal mining (galamsey) protests, demanding stronger government action on environmental degradation.
53 protesters, including Oliver Barker-Vormawor and Ama Governor, were detained.
The Attorney General has discontinued the case, effectively ending legal proceedings against the protesters.
Dr Kwabena Duffour & 7 others – GH¢5.3 billion
Charge: 68 counts including: Money laundering; dishonestly receiving.
A former Bank of Ghana Governor (from 1997 to 2001) and former Finance Minister (from 2009 to 2013), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, founded uniBank and was among those charged in February 2020 with various offences, including theft and money laundering in the aftermath of the banking sector clean-up.
uniBank was declared insolvent in August 2018 by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), which indicated that shareholders and related parties had taken GH¢5.3 billion in loans without following due process.
The Attorney General has ended the criminal trial, citing that the accused has agreed to repay 60% of the alleged losses.