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The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, is facing sharp public scrutiny following his recent remarks on the National Service Scheme (NSS) scandal, which critics say lacked clarity, proper documentation, and due process.
In an opinion piece published by Samuel Damte, a former National Service Personnel (NSP) based in Ho, the Attorney-General is accused of mishandling the facts and turning a critical accountability platform into a media spectacle.
At a press briefing held under the government’s ongoing “Accountability Series,” Dr. Ayine alleged that a total of GH₵189 million had been transferred into a National Service Scheme account at the Bank of Ghana, out of which GH₵80 million could not be traced. He further claimed that two cheques, purportedly bearing the name and account number of a former NSS Director-General, were used to withdraw close to GH₵2 million.
However, Damte raises significant concerns about the Attorney-General’s presentation, describing the allegations as “sensational” and riddled with “glaring loopholes.”
Among the critical questions posed were: the absence of specific account numbers, the lack of voucher numbers or audit trail documentation, and how a central bank like the Bank of Ghana — which does not operate as a retail banking institution — could facilitate cheque withdrawals by individuals purportedly connected to the NSS.
“The Bank of Ghana is not a commercial bank. It handles interbank settlements and government accounts, not cheque transactions for individuals. If indeed funds were withdrawn via cheques, how did this circumvent the NSS’s financial architecture, including its mandatory dual-signatory protocols?” Damte queried.
The opinion piece further questions why the Attorney-General failed to disclose voucher references or cheque numbers, which are standard and necessary in any credible forensic audit. The lack of such details, Damte suggests, raises doubts about the authenticity and seriousness of the allegations.
Criticism also extended to what Damte described as a “media prosecution” of the accused individuals. He questioned whether the former Accountant and members of the management team during the period under scrutiny had been formally interrogated or engaged during the supposed audit process.
“Has the Attorney-General taken steps to hear from those directly involved before going public with accusations? Or was this entire press conference intended to score political points rather than ensure justice?” Damte wrote.
The commentary concludes with a scathing assessment of Dr. Ayine’s approach: “At best, this is a premature prosecution in the media. At worst, it’s a calculated political move to distract from real national challenges such as the escalating insecurity in northern Ghana. Either way, one thing is clear: the AG goofed big time.”
