Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has launched a scathing attack on state investigative bodies, accusing them of abusing their powers to settle political scores and target opponents.
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, Mr. Dame condemned what he described as the “gross and awkward exploitation” of arrest, investigation, and prosecutorial powers by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Office of the Attorney-General over the past two years.
According to the former Justice Minister, the deployment of state authority for partisan punishment represents a dangerous decline in the nation’s law enforcement standards.
“The deployment of state power to settle scores and punish political opponents is the lowest point of law enforcement,” Mr. Dame stated, adding that the recent pattern of investigations is “certainly unprecedented.”
Highlighting what he termed a stark departure from constitutional norms, Mr. Dame contrasted current law enforcement actions with the practice of the recent past, where the 48-hour constitutional mandate for police custody was strictly adhered to for all citizens, including high-profile politicians.
He cited several high-profile cases involving opposition lawmakers to demonstrate how bail rights were handled previously without detaining suspects.
“Thus, Alhaji Collins Dauda was granted self-recognisance bail. He never spent a single day in custody even though he stood trial for causing financial loss in the sum of about US$198 million,” he pointed out. “Cassiel Ato Forson was granted self-recognisance bail without spending a single day in custody even though he stood trial for offences with a value of €2.3 million.”
He further referenced the case of Dr. Dominic Ayine, MP, who was granted bail without remand during investigations into his role in the Ameri power transaction in 2017.
Questioning the detention of Manhyia South MP, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who spent two nights in EOCO custody over legal fees earned from a transaction, Mr. Dame raised doubts over the criminality of the allegations.
“On what account does Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah (MP) spend 2 nights in EOCO custody without bail when being investigated for a ‘transaction’ from which he earned legal fees of GhC 2.2M? In any event, are the issues raised from his conduct in the matter criminal?” he queried.
The former Attorney-General expressed deep concern over the broader implications for the rule of law, warning that state machinery is being weaponised while pressing national security threats go unchecked.
“It is correct to say that the investigative and prosecutorial authority of certain state institutions is being utilised to punish political opponents and settle parochial scores,” Mr. Dame declared. “Meanwhile, real organised and economic crime like the narcotic trade reigns supreme in Ghana. The investigative bodies are busily chasing political opponents and suppressing free speech.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana