The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has declined to release a memo cited as the basis for discontinuing the prosecution of Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Johnson Asiama. Dr. Ayine cited provisions of the Right to Information Act in rejecting the request.
The memo in question was allegedly authored by the Prosecution Division of the Attorney General’s Office, advising former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame to discontinue the case due to concerns about its prosecutorial strength. However, God, Fred Dame, has publicly disputed the existence of this memo.
Suame MP John Darko filed a formal question on the floor of Parliament requesting that the memo be made available for scrutiny. However, Dr. Ayine declined, stating that the Right to Information Act prohibits the release of internal legal opinions and advice.
The Attorney General’s response sparked a heated debate in the House, with members from both sides weighing in on the legal and political implications. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the existence of the memo is a matter of public knowledge, and therefore, it should be disclosed.
Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor sharply criticized the Minority Leader for suggesting that Parliament bypass provisions of the Right to Information law. The debate highlighted the complexities and challenges of balancing transparency and confidentiality in governance.
The debate took a dramatic turn when Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, attempted to make a statement on the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, despite the Speaker’s earlier ruling disallowing it. First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor ordered the marshal to remove Dr. Afriyie from the chamber, prompting scenes of chaos.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
