A-G considers Next Step
Friday July 31, 2009
By Times Reporter
THE Attorney-General’s Office says it is considering the next steps to take the acquitted and discharge of Kwabena Amaning a.k.a. Tagor and Alhaji Issah Abass of drug charges.
A statement signed by Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice said: “A cursory look at the basis for the acquittal and discharge of the two indicates that it is imperative to critically assess the entire process that led to their prosecution and subsequent conviction.
“We respect the judgment of Ghanaian courts and especially appreciate the detailed arguments contained in the Appeals Court judgment.
We shall study these in depth since it will form the basis of our decision on whether to appeal the ruling or not”.
The statement recalled that the case originated during the NPP administration, adding, the prosecution of the substantive case was initiated by the then Attorney-General based on the recommendations of the Justice Georgina Wood Committee.
It said the Appeal Court judgment mentions possible violations of individual liberties as the basis for the acquittal, stating that the trial was flawed in as much as the tape recording, which was the prosecution’s major piece of evidence, did not directly implicate or incriminate Kwabena Amaning and Abass.
The statement noted that the Appeal Court also raised questions about the quality of the investigations into the MV Benjamin saga and the loss of 77 parcels of cocaine as well as investigations that followed the appearance of the tape recording at the home of ACP Kofi Boakye.
“The Attorney-General’s Office will consider these issues as it seeks to bring an objective conclusion to this matter”, the statement said.
It said the A-G’s Department was determined to ensure that Ghana complied with best practices in terms of investigation and prosecution of cases involving narcotics.
“We will consider critically the issue of wealth acquisition vis-à-vis the payment of taxes as a deterrent to those hiding behind the “cloak” of business to flaunt their ill-gotten wealthy” it stressed.
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