The Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, has dismissed the application for a mistrial in the ongoing ambulance case brought forth by Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as a mere diversion tactic.
He asserted that it’s an attempt by Dr. Forson to evade rightful prosecution for actions undertaken during his tenure as a public officer, resulting in significant financial losses for the state.
According to Dame, such an application has no legal basis in Ghanaian law.
Dame argues that Dr. Forson’s motion lacks substantive grounds for consideration, as it seeks to shield him from accountability under the guise of legal maneuvering.
He emphasized the equal application of the law to all individuals, including public officials, and reaffirms his constitutional duty as the Attorney-General to prosecute crimes impartially.
In response, Dr. Ato Forson’s legal team has submitted a supplementary affidavit supporting their motion for a mistrial, citing allegations against Attorney-General Godfred Dame made by co-accused Richard Jakpa.
They have included recordings of a telephone conversation between Jakpa and Dame, along with media reports alleging professional misconduct by the Attorney-General.
Dr. Ato Forson contends that the Attorney-General’s alleged misconduct undermines the integrity of the legal process and jeopardizes the pursuit of justice.
He urged the court to intervene in the interest of upholding the rule of law and ensuring a fair trial.
The application for a mistrial is scheduled to be presented on June 4th, 2024.
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“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.