Attorney General and Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, says Ghana’s constitutional review process is progressing as planned and the final report will soon be presented to Parliament for consideration.
He made the disclosure while addressing residents of the Upper East Region at Dazert Pastures in Bolgatanga, as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s Upper East Resetting Ghana Tour. Dr. Ayine explained that once the report is presented to Parliament, Members of Parliament will receive it for consideration but will not have the power to amend its contents at that stage. He said the report will subsequently be forwarded to the President for assent, after which the approved amendments will become law.
On the government’s accountability agenda, Dr. Ayine reiterated President Mahama’s commitment during the 2024 election campaign to investigate alleged corruption under the previous administration. He said the commitment is anchored in the constitutional principles of probity and accountability.
According to the Attorney General, the establishment of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee was part of efforts to give effect to that commitment. He disclosed that the committee has submitted a comprehensive report to his office, from which 34 investigation dockets have been developed.
Dr. Ayine said investigations into all 34 dockets have been completed, with preliminary findings established, while several of the cases are currently being prepared for filing before the courts.
He further disclosed that five corruption-related cases have already been filed in court under his leadership as Attorney General and the current administration of President Mahama. According to him, the cases are progressing well and demonstrate government’s commitment to pursuing accountability through the legal system.
The Attorney General, however, stressed that the government’s fight against corruption would not be used as a tool for political persecution. He said President Mahama had directed that investigations and prosecutions must be conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.
“We will also not do anything that will look like persecution of political opponents,” Dr. Ayine said.
He explained that the government is using several institutions and mechanisms in its accountability efforts, including forensic audits, rather than relying solely on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Dr. Ayine cited the National Cathedral project, saying the Auditor-General, on the directive of the President, engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct a forensic audit of the project and the report has since been submitted.
He assured Ghanaians that the constitutional review and accountability processes are being pursued with a commitment to fairness, justice and the rule of law.
According to him, the completion of the constitutional review process is expected to strengthen Ghana’s democratic institutions and improve the country’s governance framework.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
