The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has refuted claims that he is under political pressure to negotiate plea bargains in ongoing criminal cases.
Addressing journalists at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 22, Dr. Ayine said neither President John Dramani Mahama nor the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has influenced or directed him to enter plea negotiations with any accused person.
“I’m under no pressure from any quarters to cut deals,” Dr. Ayine stated. “Mr. President, who is my boss, has not put any pressure on me. He gives me his blessings when I brief him. The Chief of Staff has not put pressure on me to cut deals with anybody.”
He clarified that while offers for plea bargains have been made in some cases, he has rejected all of them, insisting that due legal processes must be followed.
“Offers have been made, but I have turned all of them down. I have told everybody, please go to court. If you want to announce your intention for a plea deal, do it before the judge. That is now my strategy,” he said.
Dr. Ayine also dismissed suggestions that he had entered into covert agreements with officials of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing such allegations as politically motivated.
“The NPP took advantage and said I was cutting deals. No deals have been cut and no deal will be cut,” he emphasised.
The Attorney General reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law, stating that all cases before his office would be prosecuted fairly and transparently without fear or favour.
