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Kufuor appointees to go to Supreme Court

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Former government appointees standing trial for various offences have threatened to go the Supreme Court to seek justice. They are accusing the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, of adopting unconventional methods to deny them documents of material significance in their defence. Former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Akoto Osei, former Deputy Finance Minister, Prof. George Gyan Baffour, former Minister of Roads, Dr Richard Anane, Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff, and Sammy Crabbe, a former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP are facing charges of corruption, stealing, misrepresentation among others. Lawyer for the accused, Atta Akyea filed an application at the High Court seeking to compel state prosecutors to furnish the defence counsel with all relevant documents pertaining to the case in order to allow for the preparation for adequate defence. He argued that was only fair, consistent with natural justice and Article 19 of the 1992 Constitution. But Director of Public Prosecutions, Gertrude Aikins, Monday filed a counter motion opposing the application. Atta Akyea argues that Article 19 of the Constitution stipulates that “we should have all the documents the Attorney-General will like to rely upon for the trial in advance so that we have adequate facilities to prepare.” The defence lawyer said he is tempted to believe that the A-G is relying on the “old anachronistic view that in summary trials, do ambush litigation,” which allows the prosecutors to refuse defendants, access to relevant documents in advance. He believes the case on the next adjourned date of May 17, 2010, will be referred to the Supreme Court for interpretation. Play the attached audio for excerpts of Atta Akyea's interview. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.