Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has dismissed accusations that the government is intentionally misusing its power to hinder members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
His remarks were in response to NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who called the court case against Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson persecution.
At the NDC Moment of Truth press conference on May 28, Nketia stated, “The Akufo-Addo government is persecuting the Minority Leader over the ambulance purchase. This is political witch-hunting and persecution.”
He said that if the government had such intentions, it would have brought charges against former NDC ministers and Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu for receiving double salary.He clarified that while a significant number of NPP fanatics advocated for their prosecution upon the party’s ascent to power, President Akufo-Addo declared it unnecessary.
He said:
“Many of the extremists in NPP said no, they should be prosecuted. That was a straightforward case. But a lot of the leading NDC MPs who were ministers were caught in that web. Akufo -Addo said no. Why prosecute the large number of political class? No, it’s not right. In any serious democracy, look a certain consideration. So what will be the gain?
“If Haruna Iddrisu, Armah Kofi Buah and all others were thrown into jail, it was a straightforward case, You’ve been paid up, you have taken it. We could have read dishonesty in it. We could have read fraud, but the government said no. So I don’t want anybody to create the impression that this government is out there to attack its opponents,”
In the meantime, a mistrial request has been made by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the initial defendant in the current ambulance procurement trial.
He brought up recent events surrounding the disclosure of a phone call between Godfred Dame, the Attorney General, and Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the case.
A mistrial happens when a jury is unable to reach a verdict and a new trial with a new jury is required; or when a judge adjourns the case without making a decision on the merits and assigns a new trial due to a major procedural error or misconduct that would lead to an unfair trial.
Dr. Ato Forson expressed concerns about the leaked tape in his affidavit, which was filed on Friday, May 31, stating that he believes it shows professional malpractice on the AG’s behalf.
Background
Richard Jakpa, under cross-examination, revealed that the Attorney General had been contacting him to request testimony against Minority Leader Dr Ato Forson. This revelation, along with a 16-minute phone conversation, has sparked discussions among Ghanaians, with some calling for Attorney General Godfred Dame’s resignation. Dr Forson is on trial for alleged involvement in defective ambulance procurement. The opposition NDC played a 16-minute tape, which the Attorney General refuted.
Read Also: Gyampo Worried About NPP’s Agenda To Jail Ato Forson
