Politics
Ato Forson accuses a judge of prejudice in his criminal prosecution and requests that she disqualify herself
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader, has asked the judge presiding over his criminal prosecution to remove herself due to claimed bias.
The former Deputy Finance Minister, who is on trial for creating financial damage to the state, claims the court, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, was biased in approving his plea to invite some witnesses.
On June 21, 2023, his lawyers asked the court to summon former Health Minister Alex Segebfia, former Budget Director at the Ministry of Health Patrick Nimo, and former Controller and Accountant General Seidu Kotomah, who have been unable to appear in court to testify despite the fact that some have filed witness statements on his behalf.
On the day of the motion, his lawyer, Aziz Bamba, apologised for not gaining the presence of their second witness, Seidu Kotomah, as efforts to get a witness to appear in court were futile.
Before granting the request, the Judge warned his counsel that the decision to compel witnesses might result in an arrest warrant being issued if the witness does not comply with the summons.
His attorneys, on the other hand, filed the summons motion, which was later approved.
However, according to Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s appeal for a rejection of the judge, the statements were “highly prejudicial, presented in the form of a caution that was premature and lacked any factual basis.”
He contends that if a witness fails to appear for a witness summons, they should not be “arrested without an inquiry,” but rather the court should determine if the absence is “wilful and without any reasonable excuse.”
According to him, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe’s emphasis on the possibility of an arrest warrant if the witnesses failed to appear in court has “unsettled and irritated” the witnesses as a result of media reports on the judge’s statements.
He claims that the witnesses have been portrayed as “common criminals and unpatriotic citizens who will wilfully disobey a witness summons issued by the court.”
The Minority Leader also claims that the trial judge’s decision to revise the case completion plan and have two of his witnesses testify on the same day violated his right to a fair trial under Article 19, which requires him to be given adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence.
In the motion, Dr Ato Forson claims, “the trial judge appears hostile to my case and is rushing to judgement, such that it has become clear to me that I would not be given adequate time and facilities to prepare my defence.”
As a result, he requests that the judge stop the proceedings and disqualify herself from hearing the matter further.
Meanwhile, the application that was scheduled to be heard on July 12 was postponed because the judge revealed that the Minority Leader’s attorneys had also petitioned the Chief Justice to assign the matter to a different judge.
The trial judge has so deferred the case until July 27 in the expectation that the Chief Justice’s judgement, which will decide the next actions to be done, will be known by then.
The Overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II, has asked the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to run a clean and respectful campaign ahead of the 2024 general elections.
During a courtesy call with Dr Bawumia, Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II emphasised the necessity of sustaining national unity and peace, whatever of party allegiance.
He reminded Dr Bawumia that his opponent, former President John Dramani Mahama, is also a Dagboni son with similar goals for the country’s growth.
“It’s a critical opportunity for us to demonstrate our maturity, competence, honesty, and commitment to Ghana’s progress,” Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said, adding, “You are my son, Dr. Bawumia, and your competitor, John Mahama, is also my son.” You’re both completely devoted to this election.”
The Overlord further emphasised that Dr Bawumia and Mr Mahama should see each other as siblings rather than adversaries.
“He is not your enemy or rival, but your elder brother,” Ya Naa Abubakari Mahama II said. “We have already won the elections as Northerners.” Whoever wins this trophy will return home.”
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is clueless about handling the economy, according to Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament Samuel Nartey George.
Unlike Dr. Bawumia, Sam Goege stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Former President John Dramani Mahama, is focused on how the economy would be managed.
“We have been inundated with questions of policy and policy initiatives. John Dramani Mahama has been outlining flagship policy initiatives over the past weeks in public engagements.
“The other one, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has only one message – John Mahama! He is so pathetic and clueless in his engagements so far it explains to us all the reasons our economy under his leadership is in shambles. Bawumia is empty and spent.
“John Mahama has a clear vision and plan to #BuildTheGhanaWeWant. PS: I am open to a factual debate on the policies outlined so far. I’m uninterested in party bots seeking to earn their daily stipend,” he tweeted while reacting to the comment by Vice President Dr Bawumia to the effect that former President Mahama does not understand what it means to have a 24-hour economy.
According to Dr. Bawumia, hospitals, the Electricity Company of Ghana, the Ghana Water Company, petrol stations, and numerous chop bars are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
He urged Ghanaians to oppose Mr Mahama’s proposal.
Addressing a throng in Nalerigu on Monday, November 20 as part of his ‘Thank you’ trip after being chosen NPP flagbearer on November 4, Dr Bawumia remarked, “John Mahama says he has a new idea.” What is the concept? He claims to desire a 24-hour economy. He’s not even aware of the policy.
Today, our hospitals operate 24 hours a day, our power company operates 24 hours a day, our water company operates 24 hours a day, our gasoline stations operate 24 hours a day, and many chop bars operate 24 hours a day. Because of digitization, you may now transmit and receive money 24 hours a day, seven days a week… As a result, he doesn’t grasp his own policies. It makes no sense.
“So I want you to vote for me in 2024 because I will bring a new vision, I will bring a new policy. Mahama is the past, and Dr Bawumia is the future. If John Mahama was there, we would say we have a dumsor economy, you can’t have a 24-hour economy in dumsor. So, you want to vote for Dr Bawumia in 2024, we will take the country to new heights,” Dr Bawumia stated.
Mr Mahama stated that the 24-hour economy will provide work for all Ghanaians.
“The 24-hour economy I proposed is for jobs and more jobs,” the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stressed.
He suggested the ’24hr Economy’ concept when he met with leaders from the country’s mother workers union on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, as part of his outreach to key stakeholders in his attempt to reclaim power.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, wants the government to settle all arrears due to nursing trainees across the country as soon as possible.
According to John Mahama, such delays generate unneeded hardship for pupils.
Mr Mahama says the government must honour its pledge to pay nursing trainee allowances to students at the Krobo Nursing Training School in the Bono Region as part of his trip.
“Nana Akufo-Addo and Bawumia have stated that they will pay the allowances.” I ask you, Nana Addo and Bawumia, if you can hear me, we here at Krobo Nursing Training School, claim you haven’t paid their allowances for two years now.”
“Let the allowance come. Wherever you are, Krobo Nursing Trainees are begging you to let their allowance come,” John Mahama appealed.
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