The Minority Caucus in Parliament has expressed concern over the Attorney General’s approach to prosecuting former government officials, citing a pattern of pronouncing suspects guilty before trial.
According to Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Deputy Minority Whip, “The Attorney General is abusing his office in ordering raids and conducting investigations…”
“He is no longer acting as an officer of the court but is instead acting as someone who has conducted his own inquisition, determined guilt of a suspect and is seeking to force his view on the courts.”
Shaib emphasized that the Attorney General’s role is to provide legal guidance and make prosecutorial decisions based on evidence gathered by investigative agencies, not to conduct his own investigations or pronounce suspects guilty.
“The Attorney General is firstly a legal advisor to government and an officer of the court. There is a reason for which the Attorney General is to remain at arm’s length from investigations.”
“This distance allows for an impartial assessment of whether a prima facie case exists after investigative agencies have completed their work,” Shaib explained.
Jerry Shaib further stated, “Only then should the Attorney General offer legal guidance or make prosecutorial decisions, not before. Or in the alternative give advice to the investigative agencies to what else to consider in the investigation so as not to do an unbiased investigation.”
He also noted that the Attorney General’s posture undermines his role as an officer of the court.
“The Attorney General is an officer of the court. His interest is to assist the court in dispensing justice when investigators bring their case and evidence,” Shaib said.
The Weija MP criticized the Attorney General’s approach, saying, “The Attorney General is not expected to start off by prejudicing an investigation and in his mind conducting an inquisition at suspects… Since when did we have an Attorney General who himself orders arrest, conducts investigations and examines his own evidence to determine if a prima facie case is been docketed against a suspect?”
He urged the Attorney General to respect the principles of natural justice and stop pronouncing suspects guilty before trial.
The Minority Caucus also highlighted several instances of former government officials being targeted by security agencies, including raids on their residences and arrests without warrants.
Jerry Shaib described these actions as “politically motivated” and “a clear violation of Article 18 of the Constitution of Ghana, which protects the fundamental human rights of these individuals.”
He cited examples of former government officials who have been targeted, including former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, former Energy Minister John Peter Amewu, and former Director of Operations at the Jubilee House, Lord Oblitey Commey.
Jerry Shaib emphasized the need for the Attorney General to follow due process and respect the rights of suspects.
“If you have evidence against someone, go to court. If you don’t have evidence, don’t malign people through press conferences,” he advised.
The Minority Caucus also called on Ghanaians to stand against the growing trend of intimidation through state institutions and demand justice, transparency, and adherence to the principles of constitutional democracy.
Jerry Shaib concluded: “Ghana’s democracy cannot thrive under a climate of fear and selective justice. The weaponisation of state institutions for political ends is not only dangerous, it is unconstitutional… Let us be clear – the health of our democracy depends on our collective ability to call out abuse when we see it and to demand better. Ghana deserves better. The people of Ghana deserve better.”
-BY Daniel Bampoe
