News
AG’s Department advised Godfred Dame to drop charges against Dr. Johnson Asiama – Dominic Ayine reveals
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FB_IMG_1739452041181.jpg&description=AG’s Department advised Godfred Dame to drop charges against Dr. Johnson Asiama – Dominic Ayine reveals', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FB_IMG_1739452041181.jpg&description=AG’s Department advised Godfred Dame to drop charges against Dr. Johnson Asiama – Dominic Ayine reveals', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
The Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine has revealed that an internal memo prepared by the Prosecutions Division of the Attorney General’s (AG) Department before he assumed office recommended that criminal charges against the current Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama be dropped.
Dr. Ayine disclosed that even though the advice was offered to his predecessor, he refused to heed to the counsel and rather pursued the case in court.
“This was the advice from the Prosecutions Division of the Attorney General’s Department to the former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, which recommended that the charges should be dropped”, Dr. Ayine said.
“Based on these revelations it was difficult for me to press ahead with the prosecution of the current Governor of the Bank of Ghana and that is why I dropped all the charges against him,” he said explaining reasons behind the decision to discontinue the case.
Dr. Dominic Ayine disclosed this at a news conference in Accra to update the public on reasons for filing nolle prosequi for a number of court cases involving high profile members of the of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
“In coming to this decision, I am fortified by the Rule 40(2)(a) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2423) which provides that, in a criminal case, a prosecutor shall refrain from prosecuting a charge that the prosecutor knows is not supported by the facts”
Background
Government in 2020, began the prosecution of Dr. Johnson Asiama, who was then the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, along other accused persons on fraudulent breach of trust, money laundering, conspiracy to commit crime, and violations of the Bank of Ghana Act.
For Dr. Asiama, he was charged with contravention of the Bank of Ghana Act for granting a facility of 300 million cedis to Universal Merchant Bank and for causing financial loss to the state in the sum of 150million cedis.
Charge of financial loss
In reaction to this, Dr. Ayine said the state was not pursuing a charge of financial loss again since 300 million cedis have been recovered, leaving the 150 million cedis outstanding.
I did not see the need to pursue the case. Evidence adduced so far fell significantly short of what was required to convict the accused. I therefore find it interesting that the state pressed ahead with prosecution, which I consider as a total waste of time”, he said.
Dr. Ayine pointed out that charges against some other people have not been dropped.
“I have not yet dropped the charges against the remaining accused persons because I am currently in discussions with the receivers in order to understand the financial implications of any decision I may take in these cases,” he concluded.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Mr. Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin has announced private sector led initiative that will see “Visit Ghana” on the “front of jersey” of Sunderland Football Club for the 2026/2027 football season.
The “Visit Ghana” project is a special marketing drive that will have presence on the front of jersey of Sunderland Football Club during the English Premier League.
Under this initiative, Sunderland FC will have on the front of their jerseys, “Visit Ghana” as part of efforts to drive and promote tourism in Ghana.
“We are entering a formal engagement with them to put Visit Ghana on their jerseys and all paraphernalia.
“We have gone far with the discussions, and therefore they usually showing interest,” Mr. Bagbin stated this at the 37th sitting of Parliament.
Mr. Bagbin explained further that, the initiative is not being sponsored by Parliament, but by the private sector adding that, the project will boost tourism in Ghana.
“This is not being sponsored by parliament. Infact the main sponsor is from the private sector, we are leading under my canopy to get this done.
“The GFA, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ministry of Finance have also been very supportive in this project,” he stated.
The Visit Ghana Front of Shirt Partnership with Sunderland, is expected to make Ghana the first African country to occupy such a position with a premier league club, and also offer global promotion for Ghana through EPL broadcasts, digital platforms and international media channels.
Motorists traveling between Accra and Kumasi are facing major delays today following a serious road crash at Birimso Bridge on the N6 Highway.
The accident, which involved a high-occupancy passenger bus, a loaded articulated truck, and a sedan, has completely blocked both lanes of the highway. As a result, all Accra-bound and Kumasi-bound traffic has been brought to a standstill.
Personnel from the Eastern South Regional Police MTTD, based in Kibi, are currently at the scene managing the situation.
To ease congestion, police have put in place temporary traffic diversions effective today.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
