Attorney-General Denies Allegations of Backdoor Deals in ORAL Prosecutions

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has firmly rejected allegations that his office is entering into secret arrangements with individuals under investigation under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.

Speaking during a briefing with Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang at the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Ayine described claims of plea bargaining or backdoor deals as completely false, stressing that all ORAL-related cases are being handled strictly within the framework of the law.

According to him, prosecutions led by his deputy and the Director of Public Prosecutions are progressing smoothly and transparently. He emphasised that no docket submitted by the National Intelligence Bureau has been compromised in any form.

Mr. Ayine stated clearly that no plea negotiations or private settlements have been made with any individual involved in ORAL investigations, assuring the public that accountability remains the government’s central objective.

He revealed that 16 case files are currently under detailed legal review, adding that where investigative gaps are identified, his office demands further evidence before proceeding with prosecution.

Beyond the anti-corruption drive, the Attorney-General raised alarm over a surge in land compensation lawsuits against the state, describing it as a growing financial threat. He noted that many claims rely on colonial-era records alleging unpaid compensation, with some cases running into hundreds of millions of cedis and even succeeding at the highest courts.

Preliminary assessments, he said, suggest the cumulative cost of such claims could reach several billions of Ghana cedis. In response, he has directed the Solicitor-General to prepare a comprehensive report for President Mahama on what he termed a “land compensation tsunami.”

Mr. Ayine reassured Ghanaians that his office remains committed to justice, transparency, and protecting the state’s financial interests while pursuing corruption cases rigorously under the ORAL programme.