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US-based Ghanaian lawyer and scholar, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, widely known as Kwaku Azar, has justified the decision of the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, to seek the Court of public opinion in the case involving Kwabena Adu-Boahene.
Kwaku Azar stated that the AG committed no crime in taking such a decision in the matter concerning the embattled former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, and his spouse against the state over the alleged scandal.
His statements come after the lawyers for the accused persons claimed that the AG had violated their rights by “judging them in the media” before any competent court.
In their concerns, they also accused the AG of using the press to poison public opinion, turning the case into more of a political drama than a legal process, and making their clients look like criminals.
Adu-Boahene’s legal team further urged the AG to be measured in its approach, arguing that their clients are respected professionals and should not be portrayed as guilty.
Professor Kwaku Azar, in an episode copied to Angelonline.com.gh, commented on the concerns raised by the legal team of Mr. Adu-Boahene, stating that he does not fault their stance, as they were merely defending their paymasters aggressively, as required.
“The AG has every right to inform the public. He’s not just a lawyer. He represents all of us. When public funds are involved, silence isn’t an option,” he noted, emphasizing that speaking to the public ensures transparency and reassures Ghanaians that no one is above the law.
He thus entreated Adu-Boahene’s legal team to refrain from shaming the “court of public opinion,” as public trust matters in democracy, which thrives when people are informed rather than kept in the dark.
“Yes, everyone deserves a fair trial. But when ₵49 million goes missing, the public deserves answers too. The court still decides guilt. But the people must know what’s going on, especially when the money is ours. The AG, and other public officers, must routinely give public briefings to ensure transparency and maintain public trust in the justice system.”
