The acquittal and discharge of former MASLOC Chief Executive, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, by the Court of Appeal has sparked widespread criticism of Ghana's justice system, with former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, describing it as a case of two sets of laws for two sets of people.
Dame's criticism comes in the wake of the Court of Appeal's decision on July 31, 2026, which many see as a clear indication that political affiliation now influences accountability within Ghana's criminal justice system.
Two-Track Justice System
Godfred Dame has argued that the acquittal of Sedina Attionu fits a broader pattern in the conduct of criminal prosecutions under the current administration. He alleged that the Attorney-General has shown a tendency to discontinue cases involving leading members and affiliates of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), while opposition figures continue to face prosecution in corruption-related cases.
Dame pointed out that the public reaction to the Court of Appeal's decision was understandable, given that the prosecution had led cogent evidence during the trial, evidence which had been widely reported by the media and was therefore well known to the public.
Government's Prosecutorial Priorities
The former Attorney-General also took aim at what he described as the government's prosecutorial priorities, arguing that Ghanaians should expect higher standards from an administration which has discontinued criminal cases involving some of its leading members upon assuming office. According to Dame, the government has instead embarked on prosecutions of leading opposition figures under what he characterised as difficult trial conditions.
Dame maintained that the principle of equality before the law now exists only in theory, warning that confidence in the justice system suffers when citizens believe justice is administered differently depending on political affiliation.
The Sedina Case: A Test of the Justice System
The Sedina case has reinforced the perception that the justice system operates two sets of laws for two sets of people. Dame rejected attempts by NDC communicators to attribute Sedina Attionu's acquittal to the previous Akufo-Addo administration, insisting that neither he nor the Office of the Attorney-General was served with any notice of appeal during his tenure.
Dame disclosed that his office successfully pursued Attionu's extradition from the United States, noting that a United States District Court upheld Ghana's extradition request in April 2026. He concluded that a justice system in which political allies allegedly avoid accountability while political opponents struggle to have their rights respected reflects poorly on the State.
The Way Forward
The acquittal and discharge of Sedina Attionu has raised serious questions about the integrity of Ghana's justice system. The government's response to these concerns will be closely watched by the public, who are demanding a justice system that is fair, consistent, and without regard to political affiliation.
As the debate over the two-track justice system continues, one thing is clear: the public's confidence in the administration of justice can only be preserved if the law is applied fairly, consistently, and without regard to political affiliation.
Source: Joy Online
