The Minority in Parliament has slammed the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine for attempting to intimidate Members of Parliament (MPs) and undermine the constitutional immunity granted to lawmakers.
Underscoring the crucial role of the Legislature in holding the Executive arm of government accountable, the Minority emphasised that legislators must be free to expose wrongdoing without fear of retaliation.
Addressing the media in Parliament yesterday, the Legal Counsel for the Minority Caucus and MP for Suame, Mr. John Darko, expressed concern over what he described as an attempt to diminish the immunity that allows MPs to speak freely on matters of national importance.
“This is very unfortunate. We acknowledge that parliamentary immunity is not absolute, but we will not be intimidated by threats of defamation suits from the Attorney General or his associates,” he said.
The Minority’s reaction followed remarks by the Attorney General suggesting that parliamentary privilege does not grant MPs the right to defame individuals.
Mr. John Darko defended the principle of parliamentary immunity, stressing that it is essential for ensuring open and honest debate in the legislative chamber.
He reminded the AG of the principle of separation of powers, stating that Parliament has a duty to scrutinize the actions of the Executive.
“The AG must be reminded that the purpose of separation of powers is to protect individual liberties,” he added.
AG’s silence on raids
The Minority questioned the Attorney-General’s silence on allegations that national security operatives had raided the home of a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, allegedly seizing money and valuables belonging to the ex-governor and his wife.
“Has the learned Attorney General investigated the claims made by the former governor? Is the chief enforcer of our laws unaware that under common law, truth is a defence in defamation suits?” Mr. Darko asked.
According to the Minority, their concerns were not an attack on the Attorney General but a call for accountability regarding the conduct of security agencies.
The Minority also criticized the Attorney General for interpreting criticisms of national security officers as personal attacks against him.
The caucus argued that national security issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of the Interior, citing a letter from the Presidency dated March 7, 2025, which officially assigns responsibility for national security matters to the Interior Minister.
“Why is the learned Attorney General overstepping his ministerial boundaries by assuming authority over national security personnel?
“We call on the Attorney General to refrain from ministerial overreach and focus on his core responsibilities instead of issuing defamation threats against MPs fulfilling their constitutional oversight duties,” Mr. Darko further questioned.
The Minority urged the Attorney General to uphold the integrity of his office by remaining impartial and ensuring the protection of all citizens’ rights.
“The Attorney General, as the chief enforcer of laws, must stay neutral, be above political influences, and safeguard the rights of every Ghanaian,” Mr. Darko asserted.
