Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the primary defendant in the ongoing ambulance trial, has submitted an application for a mistrial.
Dr. Forson cited recent developments, including a leaked telephone conversation between Mr. Richard Jakpa and Attorney-General Godfred Dame, as grounds for his request.
In his affidavit, filed on Friday, May 31, Dr. Forson expressed concerns about the leaked tape, which he argues demonstrates professional misconduct by the Attorney-General. These recordings have been submitted as evidence along with the application.
Dr. Forson is urging the court to declare a mistrial in the interest of justice, emphasizing the need for justice to not only be served but also to be perceived as fair and impartial.
He contends that failing to order a mistrial under these circumstances, which suggest a disregard for the rule of law and ethical standards by the Attorney-General, could severely undermine public confidence in the judicial process.
During cross-examination, Richard Jakpa revealed that the Attorney-General had been contacting him at unusual hours to solicit testimony against Dr. Forson.
This revelation has sparked significant public discourse, with some individuals calling for Attorney-General Godfred Dame’s resignation.
Dr. Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister and the current Minority Leader, is on trial for his alleged involvement in procuring defective ambulances for Ghana.
At a press conference, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) played a 16-minute tape purportedly featuring a conversation between the Attorney-General and Jakpa.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has refuted the claims made in the audio, asserting that it has been “doctored and manipulated” with malicious intent.