Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has launched a scathing critique of Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine for dropping the criminal case against former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and seven others. Amidu claims the move is ethically compromised due to Ayine’s prior legal ties to the accused.
Amidu argued that Ayine, who previously served as legal counsel for both Dr. Duffuor and HODA Holdings, should have recused himself entirely from the matter. Citing a 2020 Starr FM report, Amidu pointed out that Ayine had once called the charges against his former clients "baseless"—a history that, in Amidu’s view, creates a clear conflict of interest.
“Ayine’s failure to disclose his past legal relationship with the accused undermines the credibility of this decision,” Amidu stated.
He also criticized the Mahama administration for allegedly sidestepping formal plea bargaining protocols under Ghana’s 2022 Criminal Procedure Amendment Act. According to Amidu, the Attorney-General’s Office agreed to a 60% recovery deal with the accused—without any judicial oversight, a move he labeled "self-serving."
Background:
On July 22, 2025, the Attorney-General officially filed a nolle prosequi in the case Republic v. Kwabena Duffour & 7 Others (CR/0248/2020), effectively discontinuing the prosecution. The move followed reported negotiations that saw the accused recover 60% of the alleged financial losses stemming from the 2018 financial sector clean-up.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai stated that while no legal explanation was required, the decision was made in the public interest and in the name of transparency.
Amidu, however, questioned the legitimacy of this justification, insisting that Ayine’s prior legal advocacy for Duffuor taints the outcome.
“This does not mean the accused are innocent—it only means the legal process has been compromised,” he warned.
Source: the Ghana report
Comments
Post a Comment