The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has refused to release a memo cited as the basis for discontinuing the prosecution of former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Johnson Asiama.
He cited provisions of the Right to Information Act in rejecting the request.
On Wednesday, February 12, Dr. Ayine justified his decision to drop the charges by referencing an internal memo.
According to him, the memo, authored by the Prosecution Division of the Attorney General’s Office, advised former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame to discontinue the case due to concerns about its prosecutorial strength.
However, the existence of this memo has been publicly disputed by Godfred Dame.
On Tuesday, June 10, Suame MP John Darko filed a formal question on the floor of Parliament requesting that the memo be made available for scrutiny.
Dr. Ayine declined, stating that the Right to Information Act prohibits the release of internal legal opinions and advice.
“The document you are asking me to produce today is an opinion that was meant for the Attorney General to take a decision, and that is statutorily exempt under the Right to Information Act,” he said.
The Attorney General’s response sparked heated debate in the House, with members from both sides weighing in on the legal and political implications.
“The gravamen of the question tells it all, it says that provide a memorandum. The fact that there was a memorandum, is a matter of subject for public knowledge. The Attorney General’s office put out to the public that there was a memorandum,” Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said.
Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor sharply criticised the Majority Leader for suggesting that Parliament bypass provisions of the Right to Information law.
Before adjournment, 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 him from the chamber, prompting scenes of chaos.
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