GH¢835 Million Recovered: AG Explains Decision to Drop Charges Against Dr. Duffuor
Accra, Ghana – 28 July, 2025 – The government has recovered GH¢835 million in the UniBank case involving Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and seven others. According to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, the decision to discontinue the prosecution was based on "tactical and pragmatic considerations" aimed at maximizing asset recovery.
The recovered amount includes cash and assets, with a structured payment plan in place for the remaining GH¢430 million. The payment plan is backed by collateral and legally binding instruments, ensuring a specified payment period.
Dr. Ayine explained at a news media engagement that the criminal trial, which began in 2019, stalled for almost four years, allowing accused parties to potentially restructure or liquidate assets. He emphasized that continuing the prosecution would likely take another five to seven years with no guarantee of recovering the money or securing a conviction.
The Attorney-General stressed that the primary aim is to safeguard the public purse, stating, "You can jail someone and still not recover a pesewa. We're interested in recovering as much as possible." He added that all settlements undergo value-for-money scrutiny and cabinet review, ensuring accountability with results.
The UniBank case is part of a wider investigation into the collapse of nine local banks in 2018. The clean-up exercise is estimated to have cost the state over GH¢25 billion in bailouts and bond-related expenses.
Source: Lead News Online/Theresah Quao
