Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayeni has strongly defended the search of former Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor Dr. Ernest Addison’s home, refuting claims that the operation was unlawful.
Speaking to the media on Monday, March 24, Dr. Ayeni revealed that the search was conducted under a legally sanctioned warrant issued by the High Court to locate and preserve items suspected to have been obtained through criminal conduct.
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Dr. Ayeni took particular aim at Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who has criticized the government’s handling of the matter.
The AG warned the MP against discrediting him and law enforcement agencies, stating that he is prepared to release a recording of Addison’s remarks on the operation if necessary.
Addressing the legality of the search, Dr. Ayeni questioned why certain individuals believed they were beyond legal scrutiny.
“How come a search of the governor’s house, based on credible intelligence, is now being labeled as a raid? I was the one who applied for the warrant, and it was issued by the High Court. Why is that now a problem? Are some people above the law? No one is above the law in this country,” he stated.
He further clarified that the operation was not a “raid” but a constitutionally sanctioned search, emphasizing that Article 18 of the Constitution allows such actions within legal limits.
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Dr. Ayeni also criticized Afenyo-Markin for what he described as attempts to tarnish the reputation of law enforcement agencies. He dismissed allegations that officials stole GHS 10,000 during the search, calling such claims an “insult” and warning against the misuse of parliamentary immunity to defame public officials.
“The constitutional immunity granted to MPs does not mean they should abuse that privilege to defame law enforcement officers conducting lawful investigations,” he said.
In a direct challenge to Afenyo-Markin, Dr. Ayeni revealed that his office has an audio recording of Dr. Addison discussing the search.
“We have a recording of Addison and what he said about the raid. If the Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin, is daring me, I’ll make that public. He should desist from maligning law enforcement officers and myself,” he warned.
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Dr. Ayeni further asserted his authority as the leader of the legal profession, vowing to act within ethical and legal boundaries while ensuring justice is served.