The Attorney-General (AG) has disclosed that it will prosecute crimes pertaining to abuse of public funds in the country.
Contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Attorney-General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, on behalf of the Attorney-General, it revealed that all persons in the country are equal before the law. As such, the status of a Member of Parliament is “no bar to prosecution” for a crime committed.
“The Office of the Attorney-General will zealously prosecute crimes bordering on abuse of public funds which have been fully investigated and are considered to be worthy of prosecution”.
The statement follows Dr Forson’s comments during a press conference held on 24th December, 2021, which he expressed that the charges against him is to coerce him from pursuing the strong advocacy for the rejection of the E-Levy Bill.
During the press conference, Dr Forson emphasized that he remains resolute in his stance against the E-Levy Bill, which the Minority Caucus has described as insensitive to the plight of suffering Ghanaians.
Following this, the AG Office cautioned political commentators and persons opposing the criminal action against Mr Forson. It urged such persons to refrain from passing undue comments on the matter and allow justice to take its course.
“The Attorney-General hereby entreats the general public, particularly political commentators and persons styling themselves as civil society, to permit the streams of justice to flow unhindered by refraining from undue public commentary on the criminal action instituted against the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and two other citizens of Ghana”.
AG denies prosecuting Dr Forson over e-levy
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General has denied claims that the prosecution of former Deputy Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, for causing financial loss to the state, is as a result of his opposition to the e-levy bill.
The statement indicated that investigations into financial crimes in relation to the failed purchase of ambulances for the state began as far back as 2017 and has no connection to Dr Forson’s stance on the e-levy.
“Same (investigations) had been ongoing since 2017 with a number of statements taken from various persons at different points in time, including the Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, former Minister for Health (now Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana), Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, Madam Sherry Ayittey and Dr. Alex Segbefia, all former Ministers for Health as well as the first accused”.
The statement from the Office of the AG revealed that in June, 2021, the investigations proceeded to finalize preparations by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service towards the commencement of criminal proceedings against persons deemed fit for prosecution by the Attorney-General. Further statements, it noted were taken from various persons.
“At that stage, no issue relating to the 2022 Budget and Economic Policy of the Government had come up”.
It noted that the AG considers the allegations by Dr Forson concerning his prosecution for a crime bordering on a misapplication of public funds “and willfully causing financial loss to the state is related to concerns the MPs had started raising about the 2022 Budget and Economic Policy of the Government, as rather absurd and misleading”.
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