Court adjourns Ofosu-Ampofo’s ‘leaked tape’ case to May 27

An Accra High Court has adjourned a hearing involving an alleged leaked tape of Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and Deputy Communications Officer, Kwaku Boahen.

The tape is said to allegedly contain contents that incite violence against Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and Chairman of the National Peace Council, Prof Emmanuel Asante.

The court presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, adjourned the case to Monday, May 27, 2019 after the prosecution told the court they only filed their documents this morning.

Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, who led the prosecution team stated that they had filed the caution statements, witness statements, forensic report, the alleged leaked tape and transcript of the audio which they intend to rely on for the trial.

Dr. Basit Aziz who is the counsel for Deputy Communications Officer, Kwaku Boahen indicated to the court that he has filed a notice of particulars of alibi on May 3, 2019 as he had earlier indicated to the court.

It was his case that his client was not at the said meeting where the tape was recorded.



The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the matter to May 27, 2019 to allow the defense lawyers get access to the prosecution documents.

The court would also consider the particulars of alibi on the same day.

On the first hearing, Ofosu-Ampofo was slapped with counts of assault on Public officers and conspiracy to commit crime was handed Kwaku Boahen.

The accused persons were both granted bail of GHC 100,000 with one surety each.

Background

A leaked audio purported to be the voice of Mr Ofosu-Ampofo in a meeting with NDC communicators had him saying: “We’re going to take her [Chairperson of the Electoral Commission] to the cleaners.”

“As for the EC Chair, we must wage a relentless war on this EC Chair. Me, she doesn’t want to see my face,” Mr Ofosu-Ampofo is alleged to have said.

In the audio, he also gave his blessing to the party communicators to insult the Most Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante, the Chairman of the National Peace Council.

“For the first time, I’ll endorse insulting the National Peace Council Chair,” he said.

The alleged meeting between Mr Ofosu-Ampofo and NDC communicators was aimed at planning strategies ahead of the 2020 general election.

When the issue of the leaked tape went viral, the NDC described it as concocted and false.

A statement signed by Mr Gyamfi and released by the party dismissed the authenticity of the said tape and accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some members of the government of being the masterminds behind the tape.

The NDC, therefore, urged the public to disregard the said audio, which had gone viral, and “treat all of its content with the contempt it deserves”.

Subsequently Mr. Ampofo after reporting to the CID for investigations was formally arrested and was charged accordingly with a threat of harm, conspiracy to harm a public officer and proceeded to write his statement.

After that, he was granted bail in the sum of Gh¢400,000 with two sureties.