Caucus for Mature Democrats warns against ‘wagadrill’ plea bargain

The Caucus for Mature Democrats (CMD) has cautioned that the implementation of the plea bargain law could weaken public confidence in Ghana’s justice delivery system.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the group said nationwide feedback indicates citizens are unhappy about the growing use of plea bargaining in corruption-related cases.

“Citizens are never enthused or happy for the use of plea bargain under our circumstances today,” CMD stated. “They believe that more punitive laws must be applied in support of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) agenda, instead of softening the stance of the law just because we are eager to have our stolen resources recovered.”

The group cited several unresolved corruption scandals, including the alleged financial misconduct of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, the Akonta Mining controversy involving Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the National Service Scheme (NSS) ghost names scandal, and the Cecilia Dapaah cash discovery case.

“Joking with such serious corruption and state-stealing issues has dire implications on judicial trust and national security,” CMD warned. “A debt-distressed and junk economy crying for recovery cannot support a plea bargain.”

According to the group, citizens across various regions have rejected any form of plea agreement for corruption-related offenses.

“Culprits must be arrested, arraigned before court, prosecuted, and jailed,” the statement insisted. “Monies must be retrieved and assets confiscated to the state. That, in our view, is the honest law.”

CMD also urged Attorney General Dominic Akuritinga Ayine and President John Dramani Mahama to uphold justice without compromise.

“We cannot pretend to be fighting corruption while we allow the vampires of corruption to be left off the hook simply because they are paying back,” the group said. “The intention to steal was conceived long before the act itself.”

The group called on the government to ensure that all criminally acquired assets are confiscated to deter future offenders. “The time to act is now,” said CMD Executive Secretary Comrade Baba Iddrisu.

In early September, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), publicly cautioned certain lawyers affiliated with his party who were allegedly trying to “cut deals” for former public officeholders under prosecution.

Speaking at the 5th Annual Lawyers’ Conference held in Kumasi, Kwetey said:

“If it is to be done, it must be done well. If it’s to be done well, it means it must be thoroughly done. The job must be properly done. You are the lawyers, and so you should know. You cannot, in one breath, be making proclamations that are condemning people on the other side while you are part of the people who want to subvert the same law in the same constitution.”

He warned that such behavior could erode public trust and undermine the party’s anti-corruption agenda, including their signature Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL).