Audio By Carbonatix
Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem Sai has rejected claims that the Mahama administration is using the legal system to target political opponents.
He insists that neither President Mahama nor the Attorney General’s office is in the business of persecution.
“President Mahama has made it clear — he is not in this Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) business to execute anyone,” Dr Srem Sai stated emphatically on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday.
“And we at the Attorney General’s office are not here to harass or intimidate anyone. That’s not our mandate.”
He was responding to allegations, particularly surrounding ongoing investigations involving NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Some voices within the opposition have accused the government of political witch-hunting. But the Deputy Attorney General dismissed the claims as unfounded.
“I don’t think the government or the Attorney General Department or any of the agencies we have are engaged in persecution of anyone — and definitely not Chairman Wontumi,” he said.
“What people don’t often realise is that law enforcement is not as simple as putting out everything in public. There’s a balance we must strike between protecting the rights of suspects and building a solid docket.”
Dr Srem Sai was adamant that the investigative process must be respected and not hijacked by political commentary.
“It is difficult for me to sit here and say this suspect has done this or that. Once the investigative docket is built, people will see clearly that no one is being persecuted,” he said.
He drew from his own background to strengthen the credibility of his assurance.
“I spent more than a decade doing human rights defence — many of them difficult, unpopular cases. I didn’t come to the Attorney General’s office to turn into a persecutor.”
He also vouched for the integrity of the Attorney General and President Mahama.
“My boss will not do that. And I know for a fact that if there is any evidence that we are misusing our offices to persecute people — even if they are government critics — we will not last in our offices for even one more hour. So we won’t risk that.”
Dr Srem Sai’s comments come at a time of increased political tension, with several high-profile figures under investigation.
But he urged the public to differentiate legitimate legal processes from imagined vendettas.
“There is a difference between prosecution and persecution. What we are doing is lawful, careful, and evidence-based. Not political.”
He called for calm and patience, saying the institutions of state should be allowed to work.
“Let the law run its course. When the facts are out, it will be clear who was right. We don’t need to destroy reputations before we even build a case.”
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