Minority Accuses Government of Selective Justice in Akonta Case, Demands Equal Treatment Under the Law

The Parliamentary Minority Caucus has accused the government of practicing selective justice following the High Court’s judgment in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited.

Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei argued that state institutions appear to act more swiftly and aggressively when members of the political opposition are involved.

“The Minority Caucus has taken note of the judgment delivered by the High Court in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited,” she stated.

According to Hon. Appiagyei, the matter extends beyond the prosecution of one individual and raises broader concerns about the fairness of Ghana’s justice system. She stressed that democracy can only thrive when citizens, particularly those on the losing side of political contests, have confidence that the law is applied consistently and impartially.

She maintained that if the government is genuinely committed to ending selective justice, it must demonstrate the same determination in prosecuting members of its own political ranks.

“When the law is applied only when convenient, then no citizen’s rights are secure, regardless of political affiliation. Public confidence in institutions that should outlive any administration is weakened,” she said.

The Minority also issued four key demands in response to the court’s ruling:

• Attorney-General: Publish the government’s enforcement record on illegal mining cases involving individuals across the political divide to prove that the law is being enforced without bias.
• Court of Appeal: Carefully examine issues raised in the case, including the alleged denial of legal counsel, the refusal to make a constitutional referral, and matters relating to bail, with what the Minority described as “equal and unflinching scrutiny.”
• Judiciary: Clarify and reaffirm the legal threshold for constitutional referrals, taking into account the Supreme Court’s decision in the Zenator case.
• The Ghanaian Public: Demand the same standards of justice that, according to the Minority, cleared Tsatsu Tsikata’s name in 2006 be applied consistently in current cases.

Hon. Appiagyei concluded by emphasizing that justice must not only be carried out but must also be visibly fair and applied equally to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.