Minority Slams Attorney General for 'Gross Abuse of Power', Demands Immediate Halt of 'Unlawful' Raids and Investigations
Accra, Ghana - 24 March, 2025 - Ghana's opposition party has launched a scathing attack on the country's Attorney General, accusing him of gross abuse of power.
The Minority caucus in Parliament claims that the Attorney General has overstepped his mandate by ordering raids, arrests, and investigations into former government appointees.
According to Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Deputy Minority Whip, the Attorney General's actions undermine his constitutional role to provide legal advice to investigative agencies and assist the court in dispensing justice. Shaib has called on the Attorney General to immediately halt these actions, warning that they undermine the administration of justice and the rule of law.
“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. The posture of the new A-G undermines this rule. He is no longer acting as an officer of the court but instead acting as someone who has conducted his own inquisition, determined the guilt of a suspect, and is seeking to force his views on the court.
“The practice undermines the role of the attorney general and undermines the administration of justice. All well-meaning voices that respect the operations of the rule of law should call on the attorney general to put an end to this immediately,” he stated.
The controversy surrounding the Attorney General's actions has been fueled by a recent raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison.
According to Jerry Ahmed, the National Security Coordinator has since apologized to Dr. Addison, admitting that the raid was unlawfully conducted.
The Minority caucus has questioned the legality of the raid, asking why a court-issued warrant was not presented to Dr. Addison before or during the operation. They have also raised concerns about the use of force to overpower private security and the removal of CCTV cameras from the premises.
“If indeed a court-issued warrant existed, why was it not presented to Dr Addison before or during the raid? Why was the force used to overpower his private security? Why was the CCTV camera dismantled and taken away? Transparency is a hallmark that ensures lawful enforcement.
“The failure to follow basic procedures causes doubt on the legality and intent of the operations. No amount of legal, or public relations spin can undo the fact. Dr Addison’s home was raided under highly questionable circumstances.
“If their actions were truly lawful and above board, why did the national security coordinator, find it necessary to call and apologise to Dr Addison, via the phone of Richard Jakpa? If there was no wrongdoing with the conduct of the security officers, what exactly was the apology for? ” he questioned.
The opposition party's accusations have sparked a heated debate about the role of the Attorney General and the limits of his power. As the controversy continues to unfold, Ghana's government faces mounting pressure to address concerns about the rule of law and the protection of citizens' rights.
Source: Lead News Online
