“There are issues with our foreign partners—an investigative agency,” Dr. Srem Sai revealed on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday.

“We have partnered with other foreign agencies who are interested in matters that have been traced—or suspicions of crime that have been traced—to his business and him personally.”

Pressed by host Evans Mensah on whether the investigation was initiated by Ghana’s international partners, the Deputy Attorney General clarified: “It is not that it will be triggered necessarily by our foreign partners, but they are interested in what we are doing, and they assist us, just as we assist them. That is how law enforcement works these days—it’s cooperative, it’s international.”

The revelation marks a significant turn in the ongoing scrutiny of the controversial businessman and political figure.

Dr. Srem Sai said the interest from foreign agencies stems from suspicions that “the proceeds of crime or materials which are subject to criminal proceedings have found their way into his possession.”

When asked directly whether Wontumi had committed acts involving foreign jurisdictions, Dr. Srem Sai declined to provide specifics.

“That is something I cannot put out at this point,” he responded. “But the point I’m trying to make is that we will not persecute anyone.”

He emphasized that disclosing certain operational details could compromise investigations.

“You need to understand—if I’m here and I’m telling you the design and scheme, what I’m also doing is informing the suspects that we are looking for you in this direction. And that helps them to evade.”

Dr. Srem Sai’s comments suggest that the state’s interest in Wontumi is not isolated or politically motivated, but part of a broader, transnational enforcement effort.

While the Deputy Attorney General did not reveal which specific agencies or countries are involved, his repeated references to “foreign partners” indicate a widening scope in the Wontumi investigations.

“They are interested in Wontumi’s case,” he stressed.

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According to him, the Supreme Court has ruled against sections of the Citizenship Act, allowing dual citizens to hold key positions.

Speaking to JoyNews on Wednesday, August 13, the Deputy AG said “It’s very clear that under our laws, you can be a dual citizen, but still be a judge of the Supreme Court. In April this year, a judgment was delivered to that effect.

“So the nominee who came yesterday is qualified under our laws, not to the fact that he owes a Canadian citizenship, but for the judgment in April, he would have qualified to be a Supreme Court judge in Ghana.”

His comment comes after the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson expressed strong disapproval of the nomination of Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, a dual citizen for the position of Supreme Court judge.

According to Dr. Forson, dual citizens are ineligible to hold key government positions, particularly as judges on the Supreme Court.

During the vetting on Tuesday, August 12, Dr Forson, who serves on the Appointments Committee of Parliament, argued that Prof. Oppong does not qualify to be a Supreme Court judge due to his dual citizenship, insisting that Prof. Oppong must renounce his foreign citizenship before his approval can be recommended.

“The Constitution, in Article 156(1), is clear that you would have to take an oath of allegiance, and the same Supreme Court has equated allegiance to nationality,” Dr Forson stated.

“In my view, you do not qualify, and I believe that you would need to renounce your citizenship to be eligible for the role of a Supreme Court judge.”

When asked what guarantees that the Supreme Court nominee will deliver justice if approved, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah expressed confidence in Prof. Oppong’s abilities.

He said that although Prof. Oppong has not practiced as a lawyer, he is highly knowledgeable and capable of performing the duties of a judge diligently.

“Yesterday you listened to him, watched him – an excellent professor. He knows his stuff, in fact, we were in the law school together, even though he’s one year behind me, and I know his worth.

“In terms of his ability to deliver as a judge, I can assure you he has every quality that any judge should possess in the dispensation of justice, and I trust him that he will do his job as a judge,” he added.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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The Deputy AG noted that community members interfered in such cases through lobbying and issuing threats of death.

She was speaking at the National Justice Conference held in Accra on Thursday.

The conference, organised by the International Justice Mission (IJM), an international Human Rights Organisation, was under the theme: “The National Fight Against Human Trafficking; a reflection on the Journey so far.”

It brought together Judges, Magistrates, officials from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Department of Social Welfare among others.

It also had some key actors fighting on the frontlines to keep children safe from trafficking.

Madam Dapaah described the issue of human trafficking, a modern-day slavery and transnational crime, as worrying, which ought to be condemned by all.

She called for the re-sensitisation of community members to the effects or dangers of human trafficking.

Additionally, she said community members needed to be responsive and alert on the activities of perpetrators of human trafficking.

She noted the modes of operations of perpetrators of human trafficking were changing and appealed to stakeholders to re-strategise to nib their activities in the bud.

According to her, developing new technologies and data could be helpful in the fight against human trafficking.

She said it was also important that technologies were developed to identify the hotspots of human trafficking and share intelligence and best practices with stakeholders.

Madam Dapaah urged stakeholders to allow accountability to be at the centre of the fight against human trafficking by ensuring that perpetrators faced the law.

“Everyone needs to enjoy freedom devoid of human trafficking. We must also renew our commitment to this course and fight for the freedom and dignity of everyone. Human trafficking should be a thing of the past and same should not be talked about at this time (the year 2024.)”

She commended IJM for its relentless efforts in the fight against human trafficking by providing support to victims of human trafficking. The Deputy AG stressed the need for people to be more empowered economically and abreast of the dangers of engaging in human trafficking.

On her part, the Country Director of IJM, Anita Budu, said her outfit initiated the national conference in 2019 as a hub for peer learning, review and advocating effective strategies to combat trafficking.

“It also serves as a platform to assess our progress in the fight against the scourge, strengthen partnership, ensure that the Ghanaian child is free to learn, play and thrive without the fear of being trafficked.”

According to her, the ultimate goal of IJM was to increase communities’ reliance on the public justice system and foster greater confidence in the delivery of justice.

Ms Budu attributed IJM’s success to the partnership between government and civil society organisations.

“Our partnership with relevant State actors since 2015, has led to over 300 children being brought to safety and we have provided continued support for their well-being as well as 88 adult victims of cross-border trafficking. There have been 80 convictions.”

The Country Director of IJM said over 1,500 persons in the Public Justice Sector had benefitted from training on human trafficking.

“Our team has worked alongside State Attorneys… through virtual hearings, block trials and plea bargaining. A total of four boats have been donated to the Ghana Police Service (Marine Police) to support patrols on the Volta Lake.”

She said work was ongoing to collaborate with partners on in-depth research that would speak about the progress made, and data to support the impact made.

According to Ms Budu, the research would serve as a guide “to where we need to double down on our efforts and lose out on the momentum gained so far”.

She mentioned media representation, inadequate resources, and lack of national data on prevalence, reprisals from perpetrators, denials or ignorance of sections of the population on the menace as challenges in the fight against human trafficking.

“Furthermore, there is the challenge of interference from individuals in positions of authority who attempt to influence the work of duty-bearers in bringing culprits to justice.”

She said despite the challenges, IJM was unwavering and resolved to partner with the government and other stakeholders to continue to fight human trafficking.

“In the face of these challenges, we affirm our commitment to intensify our efforts in protecting vulnerable children across Ghana.

She appealed to stakeholders to unite in the fight against human trafficking to see it end in Ghana.

IJM works in 18 countries, including Ghana, to protect the most vulnerable by rescuing victims, bringing perpetrators to justice and restoring survivors to safety.

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According to Deputy Attorney General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, despite government interventions, including the passage of relevant laws, these factors continue to affect her office’s efforts at prosecuting perpetrators of the crime.

“Some of the problems we encounter when we are prosecuting some of these perpetrators is for members within the community to purport to interfere in the prosecution either through lobbying or luring or through threats of death and other things,” she said.

She spoke on the sidelines at the National Justice Conference of the International Justice Mission in Accra.

Madam Dapaah said although the government has laws to check trafficking, a lot more ought to be done.

“It is a whole community responsibility. So as a government, we are doing our bid but we relish the continuous support of all of us,” she said.

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Speaking to Joy News after Thursday’s court proceedings, where Richard Jakpa made several claims against the Attorney General including a conversation in a WhatsApp chat, he declined to comment on Jakpa’s the testimony, saying they will also have their day in court.

He extended an open invitation to anyone interested in hearing the Attorney-General’s stance to visit the court on June 18.

“Whether it is credible or not credible, I said it is a live matter. As a lawyer of at least 22 years standing, I will not conduct my case in the media by saying it is credible or not credible. Come to court on Tuesday and hear our side of the matter,” he said.

Early on this day, June 13, the trial judge in the ongoing ambulance case, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, admitted an audio recording between the Attorney-General and businessman Richard Jakpa into evidence.

According to her, the reasons for admitting the recording during the mistrial application on June 6, 2024, still apply.

She noted that the pen drive containing the recording has been admitted in the interest of fairness, since any electronic evidence by the prosecution would have been allowed.

The controversy started when lawyers representing the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson attempted to introduce the audio recording into evidence, prompting an objection from the Attorney General, who questioned the foundation and relevance of the recording.

The audio recording, previously admitted and pivotal in the trial judge’s mistrial decision, is now being tendered again by defense lawyers, who argue that it forms a crucial basis for the charges of causing financial loss to the state made by the Attorney General.

Lead counsel for Dr Forson, Dr Aziz Bamba, emphasised that the 16-minute recording pertains to the agreement between the Ghanaian government and a subsequent Letter of Credit.

Dr Bamba argued that the Attorney General’s conduct in the recording amounts to oppression of the accused, while also undermining the integrity of the trial process.

He contended that the audio recording is relevant as it suggests the case was not pursued in good faith, pointing to procedural irregularities in the Attorney General’s handling of the matter.

In response, the Attorney General argued against the recording’s admission, asserting that its relevance was not sufficiently supported.

The AG referenced the trial judge’s previous dismissal of the mistrial application, which relied on the recording, as evidence of its limited relevance to the case.

The AG further questioned whether the recording addresses the essential elements of the alleged financial loss to the state, arguing that it does not substantiate the charges against the accused.

The prosecution echoed these sentiments, additionally accusing Richard Jakpa of violating the Attorney General’s right to privacy by recording their conversation.

However, in her ruling on Thursday, Justice Asare-Botwe disagreed with the Attorney General and admitted the recording into evidence.

Meanwhile, Mr Tuah-Yeboah argues that the admittance of the evidence would not significantly impact the outcome of case. He believes the audio does not contain enough evidence to guarantee that Richard Jakpa will win the case.

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According to her, irrespective of whether the girl, Naa Okromo, is currently 12 years old or is turning 16 years soon, the law strongly disapproves of her marriage to the 63-year-old priest.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, April 6, Mrs Dapaah stated, “Whether 12, 15 or 16, the law is clear if you look at section 14. And for me, I keep saying that this event is a good opportunity for us as Ghanaians to re-sensitise ourselves.

“It is neither here nor there whether 12, whether 15 or 16 – of course, I’m mindful of Section 122 of Act 560 on the determination of the age of a child. It is key only for purposes of ensuring that Section 14 has not been breached and clearly, the argument being thrown out there whether, 12, 15 or 16 still does not meet the age criteria.”

Her remarks follow the marriage of Gborbu Wulomo Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII to Naa Okromo at Nungua near Accra on March 30.

Following the ceremony, the 63-year-old priest has faced severe criticism, with many stakeholders describing the act as barbaric, retrogressive, and an abuse of the child’s rights.

However, the office of the Gborbu Wulomo clarified that the 12-year-old was not married to the Wulomo but to the Gborbu deity.

Again, the GaDangme Council clarified that the relationship between the Gborbu priest and the 12-year-old girl is simply a betrothal and not a marriage.

In response to this, Mrs Dapaah condemned betrothal marriage, citing Section 14 of Act 560, which clearly defines who a child is until he/she turns 18 years old.

“Even Section 1, defines a child within the context of Act 560 as 18 so whether 12, 15 or 16 and if we are evoking Section 14, why are we discussing even 12, 15 or 16? But of course, as part of the prosecutorial process on evidence, it is important to determine the age only for the purpose of ensuring that the child is 18 or not but 12, 15 or 16, I’m afraid still doesn’t cut it,” she stressed.

The Deputy AG maintained that Section 1 and 14 of Act 560 defines a child as someone who is below 18 years, stating that if a child is below 18 years, there cannot be betrothal.

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