Ghana’s former Attorney-General and Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has launched a scathing critique of the Mahama administration’s decision to halt prosecution against Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and seven others, calling it a violation of constitutional ethics.
In a sharply worded open letter issued this week, Amidu took aim at Attorney-General Dominic Ayine, who on July 22, 2025, filed a nolle prosequi to drop charges in the long-standing case.
Amidu dismissed Ayine’s justification as “empty rhetoric” and a “smokescreen,” casting doubt on the transparency and legality of the move.
Central to Amidu’s criticism is Ayine’s prior role as lead counsel for Dr. Duffuor and HODA Holdings, two of the accused in the case. He claims this presents a clear conflict of interest and breaches Article 286 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
“Accountability demands discretionary power be exercised without perceived conflicts,” Amidu wrote, questioning the Attorney-General’s impartiality.
The former Special Prosecutor further referenced Article 296, which prohibits arbitrary use of discretionary powers. He argued that discontinuing the case without addressing the conflict “undermines public trust in legal institutions.”
Dr. Duffuor, a former Finance Minister and prominent businessman, was facing charges linked to financial irregularities involving HODA Holdings. The case had attracted national attention and was widely seen as a test of Ghana’s judicial integrity and political independence.
Amidu’s intervention has intensified scrutiny of the Attorney-General’s office and raised concerns about the politicisation of the justice system. His remarks have reignited calls for a more robust legal framework to ensure prosecutorial independence and prevent conflicts of interest.
As of now, the government has not issued a formal response to the allegations. However, civil society groups and legal analysts are urging for an independent review to uphold public confidence in Ghana’s democratic processes.
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