Lawyer and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Andrews Agyapa Mercer, has questioned the fairness of Ghana’s justice system following the release of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Top Story on Wednesday, August 12, Mr Mercer said the latest development reinforces concerns that the government is selectively pursuing cases involving political opponents.

He said he was not surprised by Ms Tamakloe-Attionu’s release, arguing that the case had followed a pattern he had anticipated since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed office.

“I really am not surprised. The script that was formulated when the NDC came into office, commencing with the nolle prosequi that they entered for all persons affiliated with the NDC who were standing trial in the courts,” he said.

Mr Mercer noted that although an appeal had been filed as far back as May 2024, no action was taken on it until it was re-listed.

He also criticised the Attorney General for failing to file written submissions, saying the office had cited the unavailability of parts of the proceedings at the time.

The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted and discharged Ms Tamakloe-Attionu, after which the Attorney General announced plans to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court.

• Read also: Sedina Tamakloe released from custody 2 weeks after Court of Appeal acquittal

Mr Mercer said the latest development has vindicated concerns raised by some observers about the outcome of the case.

“And today, we've seen that what people have prophesied has actually come to fruition,” he said.

He challenged Ghanaians to determine whether justice had been served or whether the case reflected what he described as a pattern of political victimisation.

“It’s for the good people of this country to determine whether, indeed and in fact, the ends of justice have been met, or that it is the usual politics where opponents of the party in office are victimised, taken through the processes of the law, and people who are aligned to the governing party are set free,” he said.

Mr Mercer stressed that the NPP does not oppose efforts to hold officials of the previous Akufo-Addo administration accountable for their actions.

He, however, argued that accountability must be applied fairly and consistently, regardless of political affiliation.

“I have consistently maintained that we, the NPP, are not opposed to people who served in the Akufo-Addo administration being held to account because we believe in the tenets of democracy and the Constitution, which include accountability,” he said.

He said concerns arise when the law is applied selectively, creating a perception that members of the governing party are being protected while NPP members are being targeted.

“When it’s selective, when there’s cherry-picking, when it’s obvious to everybody that when it comes to some segment of the Ghanaian populace who are affiliated to a particular party… the kinds of things that we’ve seen clearly feed into the perception that this government is out to set the people affiliated to it free, and to hold the NPP people to account,” he added.