Ghana needs an independent AG – Betty Mould

Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Betty Mould-Iddrisu has said Ghana needs a completely independent and separate Attorney General’s Department.

She told Bola Ray on Starr Chat Wednesday night that there are “weaknesses” in the AG’s department as it is currently.

In her view, just as has been done in some African countries such as Kenya, Namibia among others, Ghana must strive to separate the office of the AG’s Department from the Justice Ministry to ensure its independence.

“…Having an independent prosecutor, Attorney General cannot be over emphasized,” she said.

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, who said she does not miss being Attorney General since she resigned from Government in 2012, conceded that her days at the AG’s department were the most challenging.

She said a typical day at the AG’s department during her time was “hell”.

The former Justice Minister who came under a lot of flak for losing many cases during her days in Office said her critics lashed at her out of “extreme ignorance.”

Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, who is currently the second vice chairperson of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the state lost certain cases because there are “systemic problem,” at the AG’s department. “It does make prosecution more difficult…it makes it difficult when things are done in the moment…If you don’t take things that are properly prepared; that are properly handled [to court], any Attorney General will lose cases,” she said.

She said many of her critics were harsh on her because they expected her to jail many political opponents at the time. “It was a ‘lynch them situation’, but the law doesn’t work like that,” adding: “It’s a sign of the time.”