Dr. Dominic Akurutinga Ayine, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, has declared his unwavering commitment to ensuring that individuals who have looted state resources are held accountable—either through prosecution or asset recovery mechanisms.
“Make no mistake about my intentions. I want to jail persons who have looted state resources,” Dr. Ayine emphasized during the Government Accountability Series press conference held at the Presidency.
While reaffirming his tough stance on corruption, Dr. Ayine also highlighted the importance of non-conviction-based asset recovery when criminal conviction may not be feasible.
Referring to the case of former National Signals Bureau Director Kwabena Adu-Boahene, he said he remained open to plea bargaining, stating:
“I will not shut the door to any accused person willing to enter into negotiations with my office for purposes of reaching a plea agreement.”
This approach, he noted, is part of the broader Operation Recovery All Loots (ORAL) strategy — aimed at recovering public funds while still ensuring justice is served. Dr. Ayine clarified that jailing looters and recovering stolen assets are not mutually exclusive, and both can happen in pursuit of full accountability.
He cited provisions under Section 35 of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459), which allow restitution and non-custodial sentencing for those who plead guilty in property-related offences — a law rarely applied but now being considered as a practical tool in fighting corruption.
“As Attorney-General, I will not oppose the use of Section 35 to achieve the purposes of ORAL,” he said.
Investigative Journalist & News Editor:
Contact: Editor@wesleyannews.com
Source: Wesleyannews.com
Do you have a story to share? Send it to our editorial team at editor@wesleyannews.com