Withdrawing cases against NDC members while chasing opposition members dishonest — Kwasi Kwarteng

Ghanaian legal practitioner and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwasi Kwarteng, has criticised the mass withdrawal of cases by the current government against its appointees.

According to him, the actions of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, through the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, are selective and undermine the government’s credibility in its fight against corruption.

Kwasi Kwarteng, a former spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, described the selective withdrawal of cases as dishonest and a breach of good governance principles.

“Article 88 must be read and interpreted alongside Articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution to ensure the AG’s discretion is not abused but exercised fairly, reasonably, and without arbitrariness,” he argued.

“The selective withdrawal of cases involving members of the current government while aggressively pursuing opposition figures smacks of dishonesty and undermines the government’s credibility in the fight against corruption. You cannot approbate and reprobate!” part of his post on Monday, February 11, read.

While acknowledging that Ghanaian law does not explicitly require the Attorney General to provide reasons for withdrawing charges, he called on the AG to do so in the spirit of accountability and transparency.

“Ghanaian law does not explicitly compel the Attorney-General to provide reasons for withdrawing charges or discontinuing cases. However, in the spirit of transparency, accountability, and good governance, it is best practice to do so,” he stated.

Since assuming office, the Mahama administration has dropped several major criminal cases, mainly involving members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Notable among them are the ambulance trial case, the Cocobod case against Stephen Opuni, the Saglemi housing case against Alhaji Collins Dauda, the SSNIT case, the Democracy Hub case, and the one against the newly nominated Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Johnson Asiamah.