The trial between Multimedia journalist Latif Iddrisu and the Inspector-General of Police, together with the Attorney-General, has suffered another delay after the state failed to present its witness on the day it was expected to open its defence.

In a letter signed by Patience Adumuah-Lartey, a Chief State Attorney, the Attorney-General’s office informed the court that the police witness scheduled to testify was unavailable.

“Unfortunately, the Witness for the Defence is unable to attend Court to give evidence as previously indicated,” the letter stated.

The letter, written on the letterhead of the Attorney-General and addressed to the Registrar of the High Court, Family Law Division in Accra, is dated January 21, 2026. It cited an “official assignment” as the reason the police witness could not appear in court.

The Chief State Attorney consequently requested an adjournment of five days, indicating that the defence hoped the witness would be available to testify on the newly proposed date.

The development further delays a case that has already been protracted, largely due to actions and inactions on the part of the defence. The request effectively wiped out four of the ten days earlier scheduled for trial hearings in January 2026.

Notably, the trial date of January 22, 2026, along with nine other hearing dates, had been agreed to by all parties as far back as April 17, 2025, providing ample time for the state to prepare its witnesses.

The case is before Her Ladyship Justice Eudora Dadson of the High Court, Family Law Court 1, who is the fourth judge to preside over the matter, eight years after the life-threatening assault on the journalist.

Her Ladyship granted the state’s request and adjourned the case to January 26, 2026.