Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, an activist has raised serious concerns over allegations that critical documents were shredded at the Office of the Attorney-General before former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, exited office.
The claims, which surfaced in the media have reignited discussions about transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in Ghana’s legal institutions.
The controversy was triggered by remarks made by legal practitioner and journalist Samson Lardy Anyenini, who suggested that a significant volume of documents was shredded at the Attorney-General’s Office before Godfred Dame left office.
Barker-Vormawor’s concerns point to what could be a deliberate attempt to erase evidence, particularly a memo cautioning against proceeding with a controversial legal case that has since been dropped.
“For those who watched Newsfile, what exactly did Samson Anyenini mean when he said that before Godfred Dame left office, ‘there was the shredding of a lot of documentation’ at the Attorney-General’s Office?’
“Wait—this is not something we should take lightly! How does an AG justify shredding documents, especially a critical memo warning against proceeding with a case that has now been dropped?”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
According to Barker-Vormawor, the destruction of government records is not just an ethical lapse but potentially a criminal offence under Ghanaian law.
Citing Professor Harry Akosa’s statement before the Justice Appau Commission on Judgment Debt, Barker-Vormawor stressed the importance of maintaining public records.
“Records are the corporate memory of a country,” he emphasized, asserting that according to Section 250 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), tampering with public records carries a severe punishment of 5 to 10 years imprisonment.
Calls for Investigation
Barker-Vormawor strongly called for an investigation into the matter, with a particular focus on whether the alleged document destruction was aimed at obstructing justice.
“Unless I’m missing something, is Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine calling for a criminal investigation into this matter?” Barker-Vormawor questioned, adding that the gravity of the situation necessitates immediate intervention.
He pointed out that the allegations against Godfred Dame become even more troubling in light of previous allegations of witness tampering in the Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa Ambulance trial.
“This is serious misconduct—on top of the already existing witness tampering misconduct,” Barker-Vormawor stated, indicating that these incidents suggest a pattern of ethical breaches that must be addressed.
Barker-Vormawor also speculated that former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame’s recent public statements were an attempt at damage control.
“No wonder Dame held a whole press conference claiming no indicting memo exists—thinking he had erased all traces of it. Meanwhile, an email chain still links him to it. You see God?”
Osagyefo Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor
These allegations have sparked outrage among civil society groups, legal professionals, and the general public, who view them as an attack on judicial integrity.
Many argue that the Attorney-General’s Office, which is supposed to uphold the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct, cannot be seen engaging in practices that undermine transparency and justice.
“The Republic cannot afford to ignore this. We need answers!” Barker-Vormawor demanded, calling on relevant authorities to take immediate action.
“The dignity and morality of the AG’s office must be restored through accountability,” Barker-Vormawor concluded.
The coming days will be crucial in determining the trajectory of this controversy and the broader implications for Ghana’s legal and justice system.
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