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El Samuels, MBN360 News
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Attorney General of undermining the constitutional rights of accused persons by publicly branding them as criminals before the conclusion of court proceedings. According to the Minority’s Legal Counsel and Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, the Attorney General’s recent comments on ongoing prosecutions amount to “pronouncing suspects guilty before a fair trial.”
The controversy surrounds the Attorney General’s description of the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as “lawless looters” engaged in criminal acts. Mr. Darko emphasized that such public statements compromise the integrity of the justice system and violate the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence.
The Minority argues that the Attorney General’s comments undermine the constitutional rights of accused persons and the principle of presumption of innocence. Key points from the Minority’s criticism include the importance of upholding the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence, the need for the Attorney General to exercise restraint in public statements, and the potential consequences of weakening constitutional protections.
Mr. Darko stressed that competent Attorneys General don’t prosecute their cases in the court of public opinion. “Put the evidence before the court. If it stands the test of time and the court pronounces them guilty, so be it. Why bring the evidence to the media to destroy the image of people before they get a chance to open their defences?” he questioned.
The Suame MP also cautioned journalists against amplifying the Attorney General’s statements, which could weaken constitutional protections. “You publish and amplify these statements thinking you are doing your job, but what you are doing is amplifying the violation of the Constitution,” he said. “These constitutional violations should not be tolerated, as they are gradually tearing down our constitutional guardrails.”
The Minority is therefore calling for the Attorney General to be called to order to ensure that prosecutorial conduct remains within the boundaries of the law and the courtroom. The Minority’s call for accountability and restraint is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of the justice system and upholding the rule of law.
