An Accra High Court has dismissed an application by Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson seeking a mistrial and an inquiry into the conduct of the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame in the ongoing ambulance purchase case.
The trial judge, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, stated that the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, had not provided any statutory provisions that warrant a mistrial in this case or justify an inquiry into the conduct of the Attorney General.
On Monday, June 3, Dr. Forson’s legal team filed a supplementary affidavit in support of his motion for a mistrial, injunction, and/or stay of proceedings in the case against him and two others. His legal team cited a leaked tape purportedly involving the Attorney-General and the third accused, Richard Jakpa, in which Dame allegedly attempted to coach Jakpa to implicate Dr. Forson.
Dr. Forson’s affidavit argued that the Attorney General had misconducted himself, and called for the prosecution to be declared a mistrial. He emphasized that the recording circulating in the media revealed the Attorney General discussing the evidence he wanted Jakpa to present at the trial.
“It has become necessary to file this affidavit in order to bring to the attention of the Court and in the interest of justice, certain pertinent, material, and relevant matters that have a bearing on the fair and just determination of the current application,” the affidavit stated.
Dr. Forson’s legal team intended to play the audio recording in open court to support their claims. The Minority Leader further argued that failing to order a mistrial in light of such alleged misconduct by the Attorney General could severely undermine public confidence in the judicial process.
