AG Reaction To M&J Article In Daily Graphic

Re: “Mabey & Johnson Saga Seven cleared”

The “Daily Graphic” newspaper publication of Monday 13th June 2011 at page 3 carried a news story with the above headline. This news story was repeated on the internet on myjoyonline.com, ghanaweb.com and other electronic media. On 8th June 2011 I had occasion to deny a similar news story carried by the “Daily Post” newspaper publication of Tuesday, 7th June 2011. This denial was carried by some print and electronic media on 9th June 2011.

It is in the context of my previous denials that my office has received any report or docket from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service stating that it turned up nothing incriminating against any of the suspects it investigated in the M&J affairs that I am compelled to react to and contest the truth of the said “Daily Graphic” publication.

I am compelled to say in response to the “Daily Graphic” publication that there is no CID report or docket in my office as at the date of the publication under reference which has cleared any seven ex-government functionaries in any alleged M&J saga. Under the Constitution, it is the Attorney General who determines whether or not a suspect in a police docket should be charged; a docket be closed for lack of evidence etc; or that further investigations be conducted along lines indicated in the opinion. The police cannot and will not as professionals direct the Attorney General as to how to perform his Constitutional duties as the “Daily Graphic” sought to suggest. I have not received any police report containing the findings quoted in the “Daily Graphic”. I have also not endorsed any such findings as the Attorney General of the Republic of Ghana.

On 10th June 2011 (after official working hours) I received from the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service a letter No. S.220/SF.1/INVEST /V.2/68 dated 9th June 2011 seeking further and better particulars from my office in the matter of the M&J

investigations. This letter is clearly inconsistent with any allegation of a letter from the same source addressed to me clearing any persons of any allegations.

I wish to repeat what I said in my press statement in reaction to the “Daily Post” publication which was carried by the print and electronic media on 9th June 2011. “The innuendoes contained in the ….[Daily Graphic] publication do no good to the suspects in the case, Police CID, the office of the Attorney General, the office of the President or the credibility of the eventual resolution of the case.”

It may be useful if the alleged police CID report or letter referred to in the “Daily Graphic” were published in full so that its content can be verified and investigated against the denials of my office. I feel ashamed and embarrassed at the suspected obvious source of the series of false publications on this matter which seeks to undermine the office of the Attorney General.

MARTIN A.B.K. AMIDU

(ATTORNEY- GENERAL)

14th JUNE, 2011.