Chief Clearing Agent: Manasseh Azure Slams Mahama Over Mass Court Case Discontinuations

Renowned investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has expressed strong reservations over the government’s mass discontinuation of court cases against officials and associates of the previous Mahama administration.

In a detailed Facebook post, he criticised the move as a dangerous precedent that undermines accountability and weakens the fight against corruption.

Azure noted that while some dropped cases, such as the prosecution of the Democracy Hub protesters, may not be surprising, a significant number of the discontinued prosecutions involve corruption and financial loss to the state.

He argued that for a president who has vowed to reset Ghana and hold corrupt officials accountable, this action represents a troubling start.

“What President Mahama is telling the NPP officials his administration will charge is very simple: if you are charged, drag the case as long as you can, and if your party comes into office, the court process will be truncated, and you will be set free,” Azure stated.

He emphasised that such actions do not bode well for accountability and governance. He also questioned how this mass discontinuation aligns with Mahama’s commitment to recovering stolen state funds through the recently established Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative.

Azure further criticised the selective manner in which corruption cases are being handled. He referenced the infamous ambulance procurement scandal, where the accused were acquitted, yet the state had lost substantial amounts of money.

“I produced a documentary on those ambulances (titled ‘Grounded Wheels’ on YouTube), and I had no doubt the ambulance procurement was a scandal. I was surprised at the fixation on Jakpa and Ato Forson while officials of the ministry that procured the ambulances and labelled them substandard after failing to inspect them before shipment were left untouched,” he revealed.

He argued that if the government is clearing cases where financial losses were undeniable, then other corruption-related prosecutions may also be in question.

Manasseh Azure likened Mahama’s actions to those of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, whom he had previously nicknamed the “Chief Clearing Agent” for allegedly exonerating corrupt officials within his administration. He recalled that some of Akufo-Addo’s appointees, initially cleared of wrongdoing, later admitted their involvement in corruption scandals.

“If the government clears all its party people standing trial, the people whose power the government exercises must be given sound reasons. Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) cannot succeed when its implementers are engaged in Operation Clear All Looters (OCAL),” he cautioned.

Azure called on the Attorney General to exercise discretion and allow the courts to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused persons instead of using executive power to truncate cases.

He argued that corruption cases must be handled transparently to restore public trust in governance.

“The Attorney General must not truncate prosecution just because he has the power to do so. That power belongs to Ghanaians and must be exercised in our interest,” he asserted.

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