The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson in the ongoing ambulance case.
It has also overturned the trial court’s order for Dr. Ato Forson to present his defense.
On June 6, the Accra High Court dismissed an application by Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson seeking a mistrial and an inquiry into the conduct of the Attorney General in the ambulance case.
The trial judge stated that the minority leader had not presented any legal provisions justifying a mistrial or an investigation into the Attorney General’s conduct.
Dr. Ato Forson filed a supplementary affidavit on June 3, requesting a mistrial, an injunction, and/or a stay of proceedings.
His legal team referenced a leaked tape allegedly featuring a conversation between Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and the third accused, Richard Jakpa, in which the Attorney-General purportedly coached Jakpa to implicate Dr. Ato Forson.
The affidavit argues that the Attorney-General’s actions constitute misconduct and calls for the prosecution to be declared a mistrial.
“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.
“That I say that I have since filing the instant application had the opportunity 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.”
Dr. Ato Forson emphasized that failing to declare a mistrial, given the apparent disregard for legal and ethical standards by the Attorney-General, could significantly undermine public confidence in the judicial process.
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