Assin North Trial: President Akufo-Addo’s jail comment played in court

A section of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s audio recordings, which contained remarks made during a rally leading up to the Assin-North by-election in June, were played in open court today (July 6), which was a significant development.

The recording was one of the sources that James Gyakye Quayson’s attorney, Tsatsu Tsikata, cited in support of his case regarding supposed disparaging remarks made about his client.

In moving an application on Quayson’s behalf, Tsatsu Tsikata asked that the current trial be postponed.

According to a report by Graphic.com, the application aimed to put Quayson’s perjury and forgery trial on hold until the Court of Appeal decided his appeal against the court’s decision to hold the trial daily.

Tsikata stressed that Quayson’s right to a fair trial had been violated by the president’s comments.

“It is a rare circumstance when it could result in an innocent person who has been presumed innocent being subjected to an unfair trial.” Counsel inserted.

Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame intervened, saying that he thought it was unfair to simply play a section of the tape.

He said that playing only 15 seconds of the recording was unfair and demanded that the entire clip should have been shown to the court in order to give it the right context for the matters being discussed by Tsikata.

Tsikata emphasized during the hearings that the denial of the application for a stay would give the appearance that the trial’s outcome was predetermined, which might result in the unfair trial of a person who should have been presumed innocent. He emphasized how unique the case’s circumstances were.

The Attorney General argued in opposition to the motion that Quayson’s attorneys had requested a modification of the court orders regarding the ongoing hearing of the case prior to the by-election.

He urged the court to reject the current application, calling it a jumble of confusion based on distortion.

The verdict on the stay request will be delivered on July 11, 2023, according to the delivery date set by the presiding judge, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh.

The Assin-North by-election trial is now in progress and has drawn a lot of media interest. The outcome of the application for a stay will have a significant impact on the case.

Source: Mynewsghana.com