Ofosu Ampofo’s case adjourned indefinitely

A five-member panel presided over by Justice Victor Jones Dotse, has adjourned Ofosu Ampofo’s case indefinitely.

The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is standing trial over the infamous leaked audio tape, where conversations about causing mayhem in the country was discussed.

Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and conspiracy to cause harm.

The NDC Chairman together with his legal team were absent when the case was called on Tuesday.

Only the Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Atakorah Obuobisa, was present when the case was called.

Following the turn of events Justice Dotse adjourned the case indefinitely.

“We are just informed that for some strange incidents, the applicants have not been served with the hearing notice hence their absence.

“We direct the appropriate measure be instituted against the bailiff’s inability to serve the applicant with the hearing.

“As the applicants have not been served, the case has been adjourned sine die,” Justice Dotse said.

The case is at the Supreme Court after the first prosecution witness, Benjamin Osei Ampofo Adjei, a journalist with Accra-based Adom FM, denied his own witness statement.

When he took the stand at the Accra High Court to testify, he denied knowledge of a statement that bore his signature and which was crucial to the prosecution’s case.

Even before the statement was presented to him to identify if the signature on it was his, Adjei had testified that the police had brought a statement to him to sign and that he had signed it because he was told it was part of investigations.

According to him, he didn’t read the statement to confirm its content.

Ofosu Ampofo’s legal team have argued that since the witness has denied his own statement, the witness statement should not be accepted as evidence.

Background of the case

The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and a Communications Officer of the party, Anthony Kwaku Boahen is standing trial over the infamous leaked audio tape.

The two, are standing trial for conspiracy to assault a public officer and conspiracy to cause harm.

In the audio, Ofosu Ampofo is allegedly heard inciting party communicators to assault public officials and plotting to harm some other civilians – allegations he has vehemently denied.

The plan was to create a general state of insecurity in the country through kidnapping, verbal attacks on public as well as Chairperson of Electoral Commission, Jean Mensah.

Ofosu Ampofo, who described his trial as a political witch-hunt, minced no words by stating that he knows those behind his misfortunes.

The former Local Government Minister insisted that his arrest and subsequent trial is borne out of mischief and an attempt by his detractors to frustrate his effort as national chairman of the largest opposition party.

Ofosu Ampofo has refused to give out the names of the said detractors but promised to reveal it in due time.

The NDC Chairman believes he will bounce back stronger as he has learnt useful lessons with the ongoing trial.

Lawyers for the embattled National Chairman, had argued that the audio recording of their client was a breach of his privacy.

The lawyers led by Tony Lithur had filed an application asking an Accra High Court to stop the state from presenting a leaked audio recording as evidence of his client’s alleged crime.