The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged Minority Leader, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, in the ongoing Ambulance case. The court set aside the trial court’s order for Dr. Ato Forson to present his defense.
Previously, on June 6, the High Court in Accra dismissed Dr. Ato Forson’s application for a mistrial and an inquiry into the conduct of the Attorney General in the case. The trial judge ruled that the Minority Leader had not demonstrated any statutory provisions that would justify a mistrial or an inquiry into the Attorney General’s actions.
Dr. Ato Forson had filed a supplementary affidavit on June 3 in support of his motion for a mistrial, an injunction, and/or a stay of proceedings. His legal team cited a leaked tape featuring a conversation between Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and the third accused, Richard Jakpa. In this recording, the Attorney-General allegedly attempted to coach Jakpa to implicate Dr. Ato Forson.
The affidavit argued that the Attorney-General had misconducted himself, calling for the prosecution to be declared a mistrial. Dr. Ato Forson emphasized the importance of bringing certain pertinent and relevant matters to the court’s attention to ensure a fair and just determination of the application.
The Minority Leader further contended that failing to order a mistrial, given the apparent disregard for the rule of law and ethical prosecution standards by the Attorney-General, could severely undermine public confidence in the judicial process.
Dr. Ato Forson subsequently filed an appeal, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal in a 2:1 majority decision. Businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the Ambulance trial, was also acquitted by the court.
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