Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has issued a strong warning to political appointees who violate the newly launched Code of Conduct for Political Appointees, stressing that disciplinary action, including criminal prosecution, will be enforced where necessary.
Speaking in a side interview on Monday, May 5, 2025, shortly after President John Dramani Mahama launched the Code in Accra, Dr. Ayine made it clear that the days of impunity are over.
“If you breach the Code, you get disciplined,” he said. “…if there are other consequences flowing from your conduct, that will also be looked at.
“It should be possible, if criminal conduct flows from what you have done, for the Attorney-General to pick up the matter and ensure that the courts impose the necessary criminal sanctions.”
The Attorney-General emphasized that political affiliation or current appointment would not shield any individual from the law, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
“I have said it several times, and I will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute anybody who is an appointee of this government who crosses the line.
“It doesn’t make sense that past appointees will be prosecuted, and then present appointees will go scot-free. That means you are just deferring their prosecution, and it doesn’t make sense,” he asserted.
Dr. Ayine further urged all public officials to adhere to the ethical standards outlined in the Code, describing it as a non-negotiable path under President Mahama’s leadership.
“The straight and narrow path that has been defined by the President must be the one that we should all walk. I don’t want to have the unpleasant duty of having to investigate my own colleagues,” he concluded.
