Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has paid an official visit to the Ministry of Justice as part of her ongoing engagements with key government institutions, holding extensive discussions on critical legal, financial, and institutional challenges confronting the Ministry.
The visit, hosted by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, focused on a range of pressing issues, including pending international arbitration cases against the state, rising land compensation claims with significant financial implications, and capacity constraints within the Legislative Drafting Department.
These challenges, according to the Ministry, are largely linked to funding limitations, training gaps, and inadequate staffing levels.
During the engagement, the Attorney-General assured the Vice President that all prosecutorial processes are being conducted with integrity and professionalism.
He confirmed that matters relating to ORAL and other cases are being handled transparently, with sixteen dockets currently under review. He further stated that there are no plea negotiations or compromised cases in the ongoing processes.
Operational constraints within the Ministry were also highlighted, particularly its limited presence across the regions. Dr. Ayine disclosed that plans are underway to establish offices in the newly created regions and to renovate existing facilities, subject to the availability of funds.
He also revealed that a Criminal Proceeds Recovery Bill is being prepared to enhance the State’s capacity to seize assets acquired through criminal activity.
In her remarks, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang assured the leadership and staff of the Ministry of Justice of the government’s full support and encouraged them to remain committed to their mandate. She emphasized the importance of responsible governance, noting that decisions taken today must not become a burden for future generations.
The Vice President also called for sustainable and fair approaches to addressing the growing land compensation claims, proposing structured compensation mechanisms that protect both the State and affected citizens.
She underscored the urgent need to strengthen key departments, particularly the Legislative Drafting Department, through targeted investment in training and capacity building.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang further advocated the exploration of a dedicated training institute for legislative drafting, which could serve Ghana and neighbouring countries, stressing that specialization is vital for developing home-grown solutions to the nation’s legal and institutional challenges.
She also called for innovative strategies to address the Ministry’s limited regional reach, noting that economic growth and expansion of the national resource base would ultimately support improved budgetary allocations.
She reaffirmed her commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Justice to ensure the effective delivery of its mandate in service to the nation.
