Ofosu Ampofo trial adjourned over Coronavirus

A witness in the trial of Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been quarantined leading to the trial being adjourned by the Accra High Court.

The second prosecution witness was expected to testify Wednesday, March 18, 2020  but the prosecution explained that the witness has been quarantined since returning from the United Kingdom (UK) to Ghana last week.

The mandatory 14-day quarantine for Ghanaians who return from foreign countries is part of measures instituted by the government to curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

Charges

Ofosu Ampofo is standing trial together with Kwaku Boahen, a Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC.

They are standing trial over a leaked tape in which they were allegedly heard inciting violence against the leadership of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Peace Council (NPC).

The two have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit assault against a public officer, while Ofosu Ampofo has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault against a public officer.

Prosecution’s facts

According to the prosecution’s facts, following the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election debacle on January 31, 2019, Ofosu Ampofo met with some NDC communicators on February 3, 2019.

The facts explained that at the said meeting, Ofosu Ampofo and Boahen set out a road map of criminal activities, including violence against the EC Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa, and the Chairman of the NPC, the Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante.

It said an audio recording of the said meeting was leaked, leading to investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service into the comments on the tape.

The prosecution added that on February 20, 2019, Boahen granted a radio interview in which he confirmed his participation in the meeting and also revealed that the leaked audio recording was a true reflection of what had transpired at the February 3, 2019 meeting.