Attorney-General opposes Ato Forson’s application for mistrial

The Attorney-General Godfred Dame has opposed the application filed by the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for a mistrial in the ongoing ambulance case.

In the view of the A-G, the application is unknown in the laws of Ghana.

“That no proper grounds have been canvassed by the applicant to warrant a grant of this application, which is unknown to the laws governing criminal law and practice in Ghana.

“That the instant application is a smokescreen and a veiled attempt by the applicant to abort his legitimate prosecution for actions committed as a public officer which led to the State losing colossal amounts of funds. Same is incompetent as no one has immunity from prosecution under the laws of Ghana.

“That I respectfully say that the Attorney-General is vested with the constitutional responsibility to prosecute all crimes within the Republic and cannot be prohibited from discharging this constitutional duty in respect of any person in Ghana as all persons are equal before the law,” he said in his affidavit in opposition to the motion filed by Ato Forson.

Lawyers for the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel  Ato Forson have filed a supplementary affidavit in support of the motion on notice for an order of mistrial, injunction and or stay of proceedings in the ongoing ambulance case.

This follows the allegations made against Attorney-General Godfred Dame by third accused Richard Jakpa.

The trending recording of a telephone conversation between Mr. Jakpa and the Attorney-General Godfred Dame, has been annexed to the affidavit.

Also, certain quotations contained in some media reports, particularly by Accra-based Asaase Radio that border on alleged professional misconduct on the part of the A-G, have been cited and annexed to the process.

Godfred Dame is hell-bent on jailing Ato Forson unjustly – NDC

Dr  Ato Forson is requesting the honorable court to declare a mistrial in the interest of justice, which must not only be done but be manifestly seen to be done.

The Minority Leader avers that the Attorney-General has embarked on reprehensible and unlawful conduct, conduct unbecoming of an Attorney- General, let alone the Minister for justice, for the sole purpose of securing his conviction. And that, if the Court were to ignore these rather grave matters to proceed with the trial regardless, that would amount to a real travesty of justice, as the Court would have disregarded credible and cogent claims of misconduct by the Attorney General.

Ambulance trial: A-G has engaged me at odd hours to implicate Ato Forson – Richard Jakpa

He argues that if a mistrial is not ordered and such blatant disregard for the rule of law and the ethics of prosecution by no mean a person than the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is glossed over and allowed to pass without any consequences, public confidence in the administration of justice will be adversely affected.

The application is likely to be moved on Tuesday, 4th June, 2024.

AT aap