Ambulance Case Court Dismisses Ato Forsons Mistrial Application

The High Court, Accra, dismissed the application by Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Essian Enyan in the Central region, for mistrial and to undertake an enquiry into the conduct of the Attorney-General regarding the ambulance case.

The court stated that, the minority leader has not shown any statute provisions that necessitates a mistrial in the case nor to enquire into the affairs of the Attorney-General.

The NDC’s minority leader in parliament filed a supplementary affidavit on Monday June 3, in support of the motion on notice for an order of mistrial, injunction and/or stay of proceedings in the ambulance case involving Ato Forson (PhD) and two other accused persons with the Attorney-General being in the centre of a recent accusations.

Counsels for the minority leader, cited a leaked tape between the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and the third accused, who is a businessman, Richard Jakpa, in which the Attorney-General, Mr. Godfred Dame, allegedly tried to coach Mr. Jakpa in order to bring out statement’s and comments that will implicate the former Deputy Finance Minister and legislator.

The legal team posited that Ghana’s Attorney-General, Mr. Godfred Dame misconducted himself with his alleged engagement with the third accused person, Mr. Richard Jakpa and called for the prosecution to be declared a mistrial.

The legal team told the press, “It has become essential 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."

“That I say that I have since filing the instant application had the chance of listening to a recording widely circulating in the media depicting the voices of the Attorney-General and A3 fervently discussing the evidence the Attorney-General will prefer the said A3 to adduce at the trial. At the hearing of the instant application, my counsel will seek leave of the court to have the said audio recording played in open court.”

The Minority Leader further argued that failure to order a mistrial in such circumstances, where there appears to be a blatant disregard for the rule of law and ethical standards of prosecution by none other than the Attorney-General, could severely undermine public confidence in the judicial process.Kobina Darlington/