Gyakye-Quayson is informed by the AG that contesting was a voluntary risk

At the conclusion of the hearings of James Gyakye-Quayson’s criminal trial on Friday, June 16, 2023, the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra saw fierce gunfire between the prosecution and the defence.

After the trial was over, Justin Pavra Teriwajah, the accused’s attorney, asked the court to postpone the proceedings until after June 27, 2023, in light of the upcoming by-election. The defence argued that “the national assignment in which the accused is participating” is of utmost importance, and as such, the court ought to provide him time to complete it.

The Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, stood up in response to this submission. Even though the Attorney-General was present in court, Alfred Tuah Yeboah had been acting as the judge up until that time.

Mr. Dame retorted angrily that the arguments made by the accused’s attorney were irrelevant. No one had assigned the accused individual a national task, according to the Attorney General. By making the decision to contest, he handed himself that task. He was aware that the Supreme Court had invalidated his election. He was aware that he was the subject of ongoing criminal charges in this court. He was aware that if he were found guilty, jail time would probably be one of the results. He voluntarily assumed the danger by opting to contest.

Mr. Dame further argued that since the accused had accepted that risk voluntarily, it would be in the interests of justice to conduct a day-to-day trial of the case rather than wasting time by asking for the trial to continue after June 27. This would allow Mr. Gyakyie-Quayson, the accused, to learn his fate.

As a result, the Attorney General requested that the trial go on from Monday through Friday, every day, until the matter was resolved.

In response, Mr. Teriwajah said the Attorney General was being unjust.

The trial judge, Justice Mary Yanzuh, ruled on the A-G’s motion and stated that she thought it had substance and was in the best interests of justice.

However, the judge stated that she did not have the advantage of utilising the courtroom on Mondays, so she delayed the case until June 20, 21, 22, and 23, 2023 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) at 12 p.m. The dates for further adjournments will be decided by the court.

The NDC members present in the courtroom responded to this with a great deal of worry.