Lawyer and Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, Hamza Suhuyini, has called on the Minority in Parliament to allow the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to perform his constitutional duties without political interference.
His appeal follows persistent criticism from the Minority, which accused the Attorney General of incompetence and of making prejudicial public statements before trial.
The Minority alleged that Dr. Ayine violated the constitutional rights of suspects by publicly describing the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, Mr. Abdul Wahab Hanan, and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as “lawless looters involved in criminal enterprise.”
Hamza Suhuyini, however, rejected those claims, insisting that the Attorney General’s media briefings were consistent with the principles of transparency and accountability. He argued that such public communications are necessary to keep citizens informed about key government actions and ongoing investigations.
“Let us be calm and allow the Attorney General to do his work, both as Attorney General and Minister responsible for Justice. If he organises press conferences and makes the facts available to Ghanaians, there’s nothing illegal about it.
“Perhaps people are confused about the presumption of innocence, but that only comes into play when a charge sheet comes before the court”
Hamza Suhuyini, Lawyer and NDC Communicator
The NDC communicator insisted that Ghanaians deserve to know the status of cases involving public officials accused of wrongdoing.
According to him, the Attorney General’s briefings provide an important avenue for ensuring that the public remains informed about corruption-related matters, especially when misinformation tends to circulate widely in the political space.
Mr. Suhuyini maintained that Dr. Ayine’s engagement with the media “enhances public confidence in state institutions, promotes democratic accountability and ensures that government decisions are properly communicated to citizens.”
He added that the Attorney General had been careful not to comment on matters already before the courts, clarifying that his statements concern investigations that have not yet reached trial.
According to him, the Minority’s accusation of bias and unprofessional conduct was misplaced, as no law bars the Attorney General from updating the public on the progress of investigations by his office, noting that such transparency helps combat speculation, and builds public trust in the justice system.
Democratic Approach
The NDC Communications Team member dismissed the notion that the Attorney General’s briefings undermine the presumption of innocence, stressing that Dr. Ayine’s comments fall within the limits of democratic practice.
He emphasised that the current government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, remains committed to openness in governance and the rule of law.
“This government will not run away from getting the people to know the case it intends to present to the court. There’s nothing untoward about it. It happens in all serious democracies”
Hamza Suhuyini, Lawyer and NDC Communicator
Hamza Suhuyini further described the Attorney General’s approach as a model for modern governance, one that ensures openness while preserving the integrity of ongoing investigations. He added that selective criticism of Dr. Ayine by some Minority members was “politically motivated and did not reflect the larger democratic interests of the nation.”
He concluded by urging Ghanaians to support the Attorney General’s transparency agenda and resist attempts to politicise the justice process. According to him, Dr. Ayine’s actions will not only deter corruption but also strengthen public institutions and deepen democratic accountability.
“The Attorney General has a duty to keep the public informed – as both Minister for Justice and chief legal representative of the state,” he reiterated.
Hamza Suhuyini’s remarks reinforce the NDC’s defence of the Attorney General’s constitutional mandate and underline the government’s commitment to transparency in public office.
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