Plea bargaining not to shield criminals from prosecution-Tuah-Yeboah

The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice in Ghana has expressed its commitment to upholding justice without shielding offenders from prosecution. 

Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Alfred Tuah-Yeboah reaffirmed this stance.

“Let me put this on record, that, under no circumstance will our office resort to plea bargain agreements with perpetrators of crime to shield them from prosecution.

“Where there is a need to undertake a full trial to ensure justice is administered, that with no shred of doubt will be done,” he said.

Speaking at a one-day workshop held in Accra, the Deputy AG said that his outfit will under no circumstances use plea bargaining agreements as a means to shield offenders from prosecution.

The event aimed to educate officers from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) on the ministry’s work processes and the Plea Bargaining Law.

The workshop also highlighted the crucial role of MDAs and metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) in helping the ministry effectively defend the state in civil suits and avoid judgment debts.

The workshop featured presentations from key legal professionals from several divisions of the Attorney General's Department who provided detailed insights into the ministry's processes and emphasized the need for strong collaboration across institutions.

Mr. Tuah-Yeboah expressed optimism that participants would leave the workshop better informed about public concerns regarding the Plea Bargaining Law. He pledged to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the law effectively serves its intended purpose

On his part, a Principal State Attorney at the Civil Division, Mrs Nancynetta Twumasi Asiamah highlighted the vital role MDAs play in defending civil suits. 

She pointed out that while the Attorney-General’s Office acts as the government’s legal representative in such cases, MDAs often fail to provide timely comments and accurate documentation.