Tensions ran high at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra on Friday, June 16, 2023, as the prosecution and defense clashed during the conclusion of the criminal trial of James Gyakye Quayson.
After the proceedings, Justin Pavra Teriwajah, the defense counsel, requested an adjournment until after June 27, 2023, citing the impending by-election and emphasizing the significance of the “national assignment” in which the accused is participating. Teriwajah urged the court to grant his client time to fulfill this crucial duty.
The Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who had been present in court but had thus far allowed his deputy, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, to handle the proceedings, rose to respond to the defense’s submission.
Mr. Dame sharply replied that the submissions by counsel for the accused were misplaced.
In the words of the Attorney-General, “Nobody had given the accused person a national assignment. He gave himself that assignment by deciding to contest. He knew that the Supreme Court had declared his election null and void. He knew that the criminal proceedings in this court were pending against him. He knew that one of the likely consequences was a jail term for him if he is found guilty. It was a voluntary risk he took by deciding to contest.”
Mr Dame further submitted that, since the accused had taken that voluntary risk, he would rather consider it to be in the interest of justice for a day-to-day trial of the matter to be conducted, so that the accused person, Mr Gyakyie-Quayson, would know his fate rather than wasting time and applying for the trial to continue after the 27th June.
The Attorney-General therefore applied for the trial to continue every day, from Monday to Friday until the case is disposed of.
Replying, Mr. Teriwajah stated that the Attorney-General was being unfair.
Ruling on the application by the A-G, the trial judge, Justice Mary Yanzuh, held that she considered the application by the A-G to have merits and in the interest of justice.
The judge indicated however, that, she did not have the benefit of using the courtroom on Mondays, and therefore adjourned proceedings to 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd June, 2023 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) at 12 pm on each day. The court will determine the subsequent adjourned dates.
This provoked very concerned reactions from the members of the NDC who were in the courtroom.