A sharp public disagreement has erupted between Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai and former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame over the cont
A sharp public disagreement has erupted between Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai and former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame over the controversial withdrawal of criminal charges against former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive, Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, in a case that has dominated the anti-corruption discourse for months.
The exchange comes just days after the Attorney-General’s Department abruptly discontinued all charges against Hanan, his wife, and three other accused persons in the ongoing Buffer Stock trial, citing the discovery of “fresh evidence” requiring further investigations.
The decision, however, has triggered intense debate within legal and political circles, with critics questioning whether the prosecution’s earlier confidence in the case was premature.
From “Watertight” Prosecution to Sudden Withdrawal
The Buffer Stock case first gained national attention in October 2025 after the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, held a high-profile press conference detailing what he described as a sophisticated scheme involving the diversion of public funds at NAFCO.
The State subsequently filed 24 charges, including stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state, against Hanan and other accused persons.
Prosecutors alleged that the former NAFCO boss had orchestrated irregular payments connected to government food supply programmes, including supplies linked to the Free SHS initiative.
Investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) led to the freezing of properties, seizure of electronic devices, and multiple interrogations of the accused persons. However, the prosecution later encountered mounting legal setbacks.
Defence lawyers challenged the relevance and admissibility of key evidence, some of which the Attorney-General eventually withdrew from court. Questions were also raised about EOCO’s conduct, including allegations of unauthorized graffiti markings on Hanan’s property and the continued seizure of personal electronic devices.
Charges Withdrawn Amid Fresh Evidence Claim
On May 5, 2026, the Attorney-General formally discontinued the prosecution against all accused persons, explaining that investigators had uncovered fresh evidence requiring additional interrogation and review.
The move was immediately criticized by Godfred Dame, who now serves as counsel for Hanan. Dame described the development as an “abuse of legal process,” arguing that after months of active prosecution, the State owed the public and the accused persons greater clarity.
He suggested that restarting investigations after sustaining charges for nearly a year raised serious concerns about the handling of criminal prosecutions in Ghana.
Srem-Sai Defends State’s Decision
Responding publicly on Thursday, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai strongly rejected Dame’s criticism and defended the withdrawal as both lawful and routine within criminal procedure.
According to him, the emergence of fresh evidence during an ongoing trial naturally requires investigators and prosecutors to reassess the case before proceeding.
“You cannot just come to court when you have fresh evidence in a criminal trial and start throwing around the evidence,” Dr. Srem-Sai stated.
He explained that the prosecution must first confront accused persons with any newly discovered material to hear their side before determining whether to amend existing charges or file new ones.
“A fresh evidence means you have discovered something new. Whether that will lead to a new charge or beef up the old case is why we need to interrogate the accused person,” he added.
The Deputy Attorney-General maintained that despite the withdrawal, the State remained confident in the strength of its case.
“We are still confident that we have a strong case against the accused person. There is no doubt about that,” he stressed.
Srem-Sai also questioned why the former Attorney-General was publicly criticizing a process he described as a standard feature of criminal investigations.
“It is part of criminal procedure to do that whenever you have fresh evidence. I don’t know why this has become an issue for the former Attorney-General, who should know better,” he remarked.
EOCO Release And Recall Deepens Drama
Amid the legal dispute, fresh confusion surrounded the status of Abdul-Wahab Hanan at EOCO. Speaking to the media, Godfred Dame disclosed that his client had initially been released from EOCO custody on Wednesday, May 6, and instructed to return the following morning with his legal team.
According to Dame, Hanan complied fully and arrived at EOCO around 10:00 a.m. on Thursday with his lawyers.
“He was there today at 10 a.m. with his lawyers. So clearly, claims that he failed to appear were false,” Dame stated.
He explained that after waiting for some time, EOCO officials informed them that the Executive Director was unavailable and indicated that Hanan could leave.
However, shortly after departing, the legal team reportedly received another message requesting that Hanan return to EOCO for what officials described as “further processes.”
“Just a few minutes ago, they sent a message indicating that they’ve been called back for whatever process EOCO wishes to undertake,” Dame revealed.
The former NAFCO boss and his lawyers subsequently returned to the EOCO premises and were said to be cooperating with investigators.
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