Accra: Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged state agencies to exercise caution and act prudently to avoid actions that could expose Ghana to costly international arbitration. The caution follows the Attorney-General's Office disclosure that ten international arbitration cases are currently pending against the state, most of which were inherited by the current administration.
According to Ghana News Agency, during a working visit to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Prof Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the importance of due diligence to prevent such occurrences. She noted that regardless of who initiated the international arbitrations, it ultimately concerns the country. Prof Opoku-Agyemang urged all involved to ensure they do the right things at all times to avoid leaving legacies that could trouble the state.
The Vice President's visit aimed to bridge perceived gaps between the Presidency and various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, providing a platform to obtain firsthand information on their successes, challenges, and constraints. She was accompanied by senior officials including Mr Alex Segbefia, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice President, and Dr Hamza Zakaria, Economic Advisor.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang stressed that while some disputes predate the current government, safeguarding national interests is the responsibility of all public officials. She commended the Attorney-General's Office for its efforts and assured staff of government support, highlighting collaboration as key to achieving national development goals.
Addressing other challenges, the Vice President expressed concern over the growing number of land compensation cases against the state, calling for practical and enduring solutions. She suggested alternative compensation approaches to mitigate the financial impact on the state.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang also acknowledged staffing and capacity constraints within the Ministry of Justice, particularly in legislative drafting, and encouraged investment in specialised legal training to enhance local expertise.
In a briefing to the Vice President, Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, discussed the government's Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) initiative, mentioning that 16 dockets were currently under review. He assured that no case under the programme had been compromised despite media reports suggesting otherwise.
Dr Ayine highlighted a significant 'tsunami' of land compensation claims against the state, some reaching hundreds of millions of Ghana cedis, often based on colonial-era documents. He stated that these claims frequently succeeded in court, increasing the financial exposure of the state.
The Attorney-General tasked the Solicitor-General to prepare a comprehensive brief for the President on the issue's scale and its implications for public finances. He also announced plans to introduce a Criminal Proceeds Recovery Bill, aiming to confiscate assets linked to criminal activity and generate additional revenue for the Ministry.