DR DOMINIC AYINE PRESS STATEMENT PERSPECTIVE
Being untruthful to the public is not a hall mark of an ethical lawyer let alone a Deputy Minister of Justice who is expected to deal fairly and truthfully with “We the People” in whose name justice must be dispensed. Dr. Ayine may think that he can insult former senior Ministers who have paid their dues to the Republic as being petty in the name of a generational change of leadership. He is beginning a career in the Attorney General’s Department where the ethics of the legal profession does not allow juniors to insult senior lawyers, such as former Attorneys General, only to eat back their words as he has done.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN POLITICS FOR GRADUATING LAWYERS
Whether or not the future verdict on our constitutional democracy and politics will be positive or negative on the role of the lawyers in politics for a fair and equitable national development will depend on the commitment of those lawyers who make politics their vocation, to live a life of honour and sincerity.
CAREER IN POLITICS FOR GRADUATING LAWYERS
I accepted to make a modest contribution in speaking to the graduating students of the Ghana School of law, my alma mater, on the topic “career opportunities in the legal profession – a career in politics” because I place a very high premium on the honour and integrity of the lawyer and his role in building a vibrant and healthy constitutional democracy.
WHY I ALMOST DISCONTINUED COURT ACTION
I felt so low and abused in respect of three separate incidents on 7 March 2013 which but for my fundamental and principled determination to use the opportunity offered by the Constitution to defend the public interest, I would have discontinued my action from the Court. It is important to share my perspective with the public whatever eventually the outcome of the case may be.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF LAWYERS
The Ghana Constitution, 1992, supports the argument that the legal profession has a responsibility to expose unconstitutional and criminal acts or conduct. This raises the question: What are the ethical responsibilities of a lawyer in practice who shoulders the onerous and burdensome duty of being the “gatekeeper” and the “moral conscience” of society under the 1992 Constitution? It is my general contention that several bloody and destructive conflicts in Africa have resulted from a failure of the law and of lawyers as the “gatekeepers” and the “moral conscience” of their countries.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL OATHS & STATE SECRETS ACT
Can a person who has sworn the Constitutional oaths of office and who is also bound by the State Secrets Act, 1962 (Act 101) disclose communication that he or she has come to know about in the course of his or her duties which infringe the Constitution, amount to violations of the Criminal Offences Act or have been designed to commit crime or undermine the Constitution of Ghana? This is a vexed question often repeated in recent months, which I addressed in my recent speech to the Ghana Bar Association.
REPORTING A SITTING PRESIDENT TO BE INVESTIGATED
The transitional President, John Dramani Mahama, has issued a challenge at Ho to anybody who has evidence that he is corrupt to report him to any of the institutions set up for the purpose to investigate him. The question is, which Ghanaian would report a sitting President for such an investigation in the hope of getting impartial results? My respectful view is that President Mahama should set up a bi-partisan committee of Parliament to take evidence from Ghanaians on the matter of corruption in his Government.
RESOLVING CONFLICTS: PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ETHICS & CORPORATE STRATEGY
The modern disciplines of conflict, peace, and security studies and research have underscored the importance of a balanced ethnic, racial, religious, gender and other minority interest group democratic participation in the building of stable and sustainable nations and good governance. This is because in the natural and inevitable struggle for power, status, roles and values within any political system containing these diverse groups, political elites who perceive they are marginalized may and do often resort to these group interest for social and political mobilization for political and economic power.
DIVERSITY IN UNITY FOR SUSTAINABLE NATION BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT
The modern disciplines of conflict, peace, and security studies and research have underscored the importance of a balanced ethnic, racial, religious, gender and other minority interest group democratic participation in the building of stable and sustainable nations and good governance. This is because in the natural and inevitable struggle for power, status, roles and values within any political system containing these diverse groups, political elites who perceive they are marginalized may and do often resort to these group interest for social and political mobilization for political and economic power.
GALLOPERS, SETTLEMENTS & THE HALLOWED TRADITIONS OF THE AG
A perspective on the controversy of whether or not there was a binding and subsisting contract between African Automobile Limited and the Government of Ghana at the time of the performance of the contract, as well as the role of the respective judicial authorities involved.
WRIT AND STATEMENT OF CASE AT SUPREME COURT
Exercising right as a citizen of Ghana pursuant to Articles 2 and 130 of the 1992 Constitution to file a Writ No. J1/15.2012 and a Statement of Case as Plaintiff at the Supreme Court asking for a number of declarations of nullity and consequential reliefs against: (1) the Attorney-General (2) Waterville Holdings (BVI) Limited (3) Austro-Invest Management Limited and (4) Alfred Agbesi Woyome for various actions and conduct on their part in the making and payment of claims against the Government.
NOLLE PROSEQUI IN WOYOME CASE
On Monday, 4th June 2012 the High Court trying the Woyome case was given the assurance that the trial will commence on 5th June 2012. On 5th June 2012 the charges against the accused persons were discontinued by the entry of a nolle prosequi and all the accused discharged. Alfred Agbesi Woyome was alone rearrested and charged with two offences and the case adjourned. This article examines actions taken.
BALKAN ENERGY CASE
Written in response to criticism about appropriate channels for the discourse about Government accountability and transparency. Exposing the dialogue of the deaf, with the Government and the NDC ignoring foundation members’ calls for reforms in the Government to enable it to win the elections.
WHY MARTIN AMIDU IS NOT USING GOVERNMENT CHANNELS FOR ADVOCACY
Written in response to criticism about appropriate channels for the discourse about Government accountability and transparency. Exposing the dialogue of the deaf, with the Government and the NDC ignoring foundation members’ calls for reforms in the Government to enable it to win the elections.
UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF MILLS’ OVERRULING SUPREME COURT
A perspective on President Mills’ executive judgment overruling the judgment of the Supreme Court being an unconstitutional decision, and one that goes against the founding principles of the NDC.
GOVERNMENT DELIBERATELY DELAYING THE PROSECUTION OF WOYOME?
With all the delays, the impression is being created that Government is deliberately buying time by pushing the Woyome trial to after the legal vacation in October 2012 and thus avoiding the conclusion of the trial before the elections in December 2012.