The Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice designate, the respected and learned Dr. Akurintinga Ayine took his turn at the vetting committee of the August house of Parliament on the 13th day of January, 2025.

The Law Platform spots 10 responses of the learned Minister designate which are worthy of the attention of the public and members of the Legal Industry.

1) Public Tribunals: The Minister in his response to the learned Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah of Manhyia South Constituency said he shall introduce a new bill to govern Public Tribunals to implement the letter and spirit of Article 132 of the 1992 Constitution which provide for Tribunals as part of the Architecture of our Courts.

2) Caning as punishment under Public Tribunals: The learned Minister designate believes that caning cannot be a punishment under Public Tribunals as same breaches human rights of persons under chapter five of the 1992 Constitution.

3) ORAL: Dr. Ayine said despite the Committee set up by the President H.E. J.D. Mahama for Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) not being a legal body, the committee and its work is legal and constitutional. Dr. Ayine minced no words as he suggested that he is committed to O.R.A.L

4) Conflict of Interest with Cassius Mining: Despite being the lawyer together with his protege, the learned Godwin Kudzo Tamaklo, for Cassius Mining and has represented them through the filing of pleadings and other Court processes in claims against the government, Dr. Ayine said he shall work to promote and defend the interests of Ghana in the recent arbitration claim brought by the same Cassius Mining against Ghana after already losing $275 million against Ghana successfully defended by the former A-G, Godfred Dame.

5) Disciplinary matter at GLC: The Honourable nominee who upon approval shall be the leader of the Bar did not offer a response to the question posed by the learned Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe constituency in the person of Jerry Ahmed Shaib. The learned Chairman of the vetting committee, the learned Bernard Ahiafor said the disciplinary matter of the learned Minister designate at the disciplinary committee of the Regulator of the Legal Profession is not within the power of the Member of Parliament and A-G to fastrack as suggested by the questioner by his question suggesting an objection to the question

6) Full scale amendment of Criminal Procedure: Dr. Ayine said despite having fundamental disagreements with portions of the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill such as the scrapping of interlocutory appeals, he shall have a look at the bill to see if there is a need for its re-introduction.

7) Reliance of State Attorneys in International Arbitration: The Minister represented to the committee that he shall rely on lawyers of the State as his predecessor to prosecute claims of the State and defend others against the Republic.

8) Wide Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court: On the issue of numerous jurisdictions of the Supreme Court as posed by the learned Member of Parliament for Okai Kwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, Dr. Ayine held the view in his comparison with the US Supreme Court that there ought to be a sieving mechanism to take out frivolous cases which ordinarily may come before the Supreme Court under the existing regime. He also held the view that there ought to be various divisions of the Supreme Court such as Criminal, Transactions etc and that there is the need for the appointment of more Justices to the Bench of the Apex Court for the sitting of the Supreme Court in divisions.

9) Advice on National Security Ministry: The A-G designate and Doctoral Holder in Trade and Investment law, Dr. Ayine responded to the calmly asked question from the Minority leader, the learned Alexander Afenyo Markin of the advise to be given to the President for a National Security Minister pursuant to the Security and Intelligence Act. Dr. Ayine said that he shall advise the President on the law, suggesting the need for a National Security Minister if the law suggests so upon his careful read for opinion forming on the Bill for advise to the President.

10) Bill on International Transactions: On Article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution and the need for legislation on the said clause pursuant to the constitution, Dr. Ayine says he shall adopt his private member bill worked on together with the respected Joe Ghartey, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boahmah and others and present same for passage by Parliament pursuant to the dictates of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.