The Attorney General’s decision to discontinue prosecution against Edward Akuoko, General Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited, has sparked debate over prosecutorial fairness and ethical conduct in high-profile cases.
Speaking after the development, counsel for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Wontumi), Andy Appiah-Kubi, cautioned that decisions of this nature must reinforce—not weaken—public confidence in the justice system.
Although acknowledging the Attorney General’s constitutional authority to withdraw charges, Appiah-Kubi argued that the dual responsibility of serving as Minister for Justice requires an even higher threshold of impartiality.
“His office must ensure that the justice of the moment is served for all accused persons until guilt is proven,” Appiah-Kubi said.
The lawyer questioned the ethical basis of converting a former accused person into a prosecution witness, suggesting it could create perceptions of bias and selective justice.
“It appears the Attorney General is turning accused persons into state witnesses in a manner that undermines the course of justice,” he cautioned, adding that the defense team would not hesitate to challenge any unfair legal tactics.
Appiah-Kubi stressed that the withdrawal of charges against Akuoko would not derail the defense’s focus on securing justice for Wontumi, reiterating the principle that every accused person remains innocent until proven guilty.
He further urged the state’s legal machinery to prioritize fairness and due process, saying Ghana’s justice system must remain above reproach, especially in politically sensitive prosecutions.
