Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has raised serious ethical concerns over Attorney-General Dominic Ayine’s decision to discontinue the criminal trial involving Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and seven others, citing a conflict of interest that casts doubt on the integrity of the process.
Amidu argued that Ayine failed to disclose his previous role as lead counsel for the first and second accused—Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and HODA Holdings—a fact Amidu says is well-documented and publicly known.
Referencing a 2020 Starr FM report, Amidu recalled:
“Dr. Dominic Aryine [Ayine], lawyer for Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and HODA Holding… described the charges preferred against his clients as grossly misconceived and lacking any legal basis.”
For Amidu, this prior legal relationship should have disqualified Ayine from making prosecutorial decisions in the case—or at the very least, required full disclosure in the name of transparency.
Instead, Amidu alleged that the Mahama administration, through Ayine, sidestepped formal plea bargaining procedures laid out in Ghana’s Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022, in favour of a controversial 60% recovery threshold agreed upon without judicial oversight.
“The Attorney-General’s failure to acknowledge his previous involvement with the accused renders his justification flawed and tainted by self-interest,” Amidu stated.
