Minority demands AG's removal over 'unconstitutional' withdrawal of GH¢350m flood relief 

The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate resignation or dismissal of Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine over what it describes as constitutional and legal breaches in the withdrawal of GH¢350 million from the Contingency Fund for flood relief.

The demand was made at a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, July 8, by Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei.

It comes days after the government announced the release of the funds to support victims of the June 29 floods and finance flood mitigation measures.

The Minority, however, argued that the withdrawal was unconstitutional, alleging that the Contingency Fund was already under a garnishee order and that the Attorney General failed to properly protect the state's interests.

"As principal legal adviser, when the moment came to counsel lawfully, he failed to do the honourable thing. We call on the President, who swore an oath to preserve, protect, and defend this Constitution, to relieve him of office without delay," Madam Appiagyei said.

The Minority also demanded that the Attorney General and Finance Minister appear before Parliament to produce the garnishee order, the full court records relating to the judgment debt, the Attorney General's July 1 letter and all correspondence exchanged between the Attorney General's Department, the Ministry of Finance, the Controller and Accountant-General's Department and the Bank of Ghana concerning the withdrawal.

In addition, the caucus called on the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to publicly explain whether the central bank declined to act on the Attorney General's directive, identify the account from which the GH¢350 million was ultimately released and disclose who authorised the transaction.

"The Minority further serves notice that should candid answers not be forthcoming, we shall pursue every parliamentary and legal avenue available to us, including a motion for a full-scale parliamentary inquiry and recourse to the Supreme Court for the enforcement of the Constitution under Articles 2 and 130," Madam Appiagyei stated.