Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has dismissed suggestions that he is being influenced or pressured to “cut deals” in any corruption-related cases.
Addressing the press at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 22, Dr. Ayine said all prosecutorial decisions under his leadership are guided strictly by law, evidence, and due process, not by political or external considerations.
“I want to let you know that I am under no pressure from any quarters to cut any deals. Mr. President, who is my boss, has never put pressure on me. On the contrary, when I brief him, he gives me his blessing. He doesn’t even express an opinion one way or the other,” he stated.
He added that neither the Chief of Staff, nor the Secretary to the President, nor the Legal Counsel to the President has ever attempted to influence his decisions in any way.
“All of them encourage me to stay focused. The work is stressful, but I have their full support to pursue justice without fear or favour,” he said.
Wontumi’s case
Dr. Ayine revealed that in the case of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, his office received several offers for a plea deal, but he rejected them outright, insisting that all such matters must be handled transparently in court.
“Offers were made in the Wontumi case, but I turned them down. I told everyone that if you want a plea deal, announce your intention before the judge. That is now my strategy. No deal has been cut and no deal will be cut, except under the auspices of a court of competent jurisdiction,” he stressed.
Responding to public concerns about the pace of some high-profile prosecutions, the Attorney General urged patience, explaining that accountability and justice require thorough preparation and adherence to due process.
Dr. Ayine maintained that his approach is focused on delivering solid, evidence-backed cases that will withstand scrutiny in court, not on yielding to political or public pressure for quick outcomes.
“Those pushing me to rush to court must understand that accountability takes time. If I go to court unprepared and defense lawyers raise objections that throw out my case, the same people will turn around and call me incompetent. I was never an incompetent lawyer in private practice, and I don’t intend to be one in public service,” he said.
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