The Former Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah has broken the silence on the trial murder case of journalist Ahmed Suale.
He revealed that during his tenure as an Attorney general, the police conducted investigations and submitted a docket to the Attorney General’s office. However, he said;
“After reviewing the docket, we realized that there wasn’t enough evidence to warrant the prosecution of anyone. We advised the police to continue investigations.’’
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
Tuah Yeboah expressed satisfaction that progress has finally been made, with one person now arraigned before the court and remanded in prison custody.
“The question is, do they have enough evidence? I don’t want us to rush, but at least I’m happy that based on the advice we gave, certain steps were taken, and now someone has been arrested.’’
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
Highlighting the broader implications, Tuah Yeboah stressed that justice must be served not just for the victim’s family but also to protect press freedom. He said;
“Journalists must feel secure while doing their work. If you live in a country where you fear for your safety, it affects press freedom. We must all be concerned about such cases.’’
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s Case: “The Matter Is Not Closed”
Moreover, Tuah Yeboah also weighed in on the discontinuation of the case against Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the #FixTheCountry activist who was charged with treason felony, whereby the current Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, recently entered a nolle prosequi (NP), effectively dropping the case.
While acknowledging that the Attorney General has the authority to discontinue cases, Yeboah pointed out that an NP does not mean the case is permanently closed. He explained;
“When an NP is entered, the accused person is discharged, but if future evidence emerges, the case can be reopened.’’
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
Responding to claims that the initial prosecution was politically motivated, Tuah Yeboah defended the decision to charge Barker-Vormawor, citing national security concerns.
“Oliver posted some comments on Facebook. Based on investigations, it became necessary to put him before a court. People may think social media posts are harmless, but they can inspire others to act on them. We saw a similar situation in 2019 with the coup plotters. People doubted the seriousness of the case until the evidence came out.’’
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
When asked whether he would revisit the case if he returned to office, Tuah Yeboah was cautious.
“The Attorney General must have seen something we are not privy to. Unless something new comes up, we leave it at that.”
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
Corruption Cases Against Former Government Officials
Touching on the ongoing investigations and prosecutions of former government officials, Yeboah maintained that accountability is a constitutional requirement.
“If you are invited in a way that does not respect the law, that is a problem. But if it is within the remit of the law, there’s nothing wrong with it.’’
“So far, those invited have complied. We are watching to see what follows. The key issue is whether they are treated fairly and within the law.’’
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
Tuah Yeboah advised the government to adopt a more civil approach in dealing with individuals under investigation.
“You can simply invite a person through a phone call or a formal letter. It is only when they refuse to appear that force should be used. So far, most of the individuals have honored invitations, except for one or two cases.’’
“As a lawyer, I have a duty to defend my clients. I have been to the NIB to represent some individuals, but I will not divulge details at this point.’’
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
Meanwhile, Alfred Tuah Yeboah emphasized the importance of justice, due process, and adherence to the rule of law. Whether discussing high-profile murder cases, politically sensitive prosecutions, or corruption allegations, his message remained clear.
“The law must be followed, and justice must be done without fear or favor.”
Alfred Tuah Yeboah Former Deputy Attorney General
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