Samuel Ofosu Ampofo
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has withdrawn all charges against former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and a communication officer of the party, Anthony Kwaku Boahen.
This is the fourth case in which the new Attorney General has either withdrawn all charges or abandoned the trial of individuals who were charged by the previous Attorney General.
These include the trial of Dr. Stephen Opuni and Seidu Agongo; Dr. Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa; and Johnson Asiama, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana who was accused of playing a role in the collapse of UG Bank and UniBank.
Ofosu Ampofo and Kwaku Boahen had been standing trial since December 2019, over a leaked audio tape which captures how the NDC was allegedly planning to assault the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and some officials of the Peace Council.
A notice of withdrawal signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa states that the withdrawal is in accordance with sections 59(1), 59(2) (b)(ii) & 59(5) of Act 30.
“Take note that at the next hearing of this suit, the Prosecutor on the instructions of the Honourable Attorney-General hereby withdraws all offences and or charges against all the Accused Persons herein under section 59(1), (2)(b)(ii), and (5) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act of Ghana, Act 30,” the notice of withdrawal added.
Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo and Anthony Kwaku Boahen were on trial over a leaked audio tape that captured how the NDC was allegedly planning to commit crimes in the country and turn around to blame them on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Among the strategies was the creation of a general state of insecurity in the country through kidnappings, arson, and verbal attacks on public officials like the Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Prof. Emmanuel Asante, and EC boss, Jean Mensa.
Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo has been charged with one count of conspiracy to cause harm and two counts of assault against a public officer.
Mr. Boahen, on the other hand, is facing one count of conspiracy to cause harm.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak