A-G Discontinues Duffour Trial after Recovery of State Funds
Duffour Trial Dropped After 60% Recovery—A-G Explains
Edem Latsu Nukafu 
The Office of the Attorney-General has formally discontinued the prosecution of former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffour and seven others, who were standing trial over alleged financial improprieties linked to Ghana’s financial sector clean-up.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, July 22, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai announced that a nolle prosequi had been entered in the case titled The Republic v. Kwabena Duffour & 7 Others (CR/0248/2020), effectively halting the legal proceedings.
Although not legally obligated to do so, the Attorney-General’s Office cited transparency and public accountability as reasons for publicly explaining the move.
The case stemmed from Ghana’s 2018 financial sector reforms, which sought to stabilise the industry and hold key individuals accountable for mismanagement, while recovering significant state losses.
According to the statement, a benchmark had been established requiring at least 60% recovery of the alleged financial losses before any decision to reconsider prosecution would be made.
“Following prolonged negotiations and engagements, the accused persons… have met this recovery threshold,” the Deputy A-G stated.
It added that with the recovery target met, continuing the trial would serve no “additional public purpose,” and that discontinuing the case was therefore in the national interest.
The Attorney-General’s Office stressed, however, that this move should not be interpreted as an exoneration.
“This decision does not imply an absence of wrongdoing nor a vindication of any conduct,” the statement clarified, calling it instead a pragmatic action to preserve state resources.
The Attorney-General reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the protection of public funds, adding that similar benchmarks would guide future prosecutorial decisions.
The discontinuation of the case has sparked public interest due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the significant financial impact of the 2018 clean-up, which led to the collapse of several financial institutions and a major restructuring of Ghana’s banking sector.
