In the ongoing trial of Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the High Court in Accra has accepted 68 WhatsApp messages between Attorney General Godfred Dame and businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused, as evidence.
Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, the presiding judge, admitted the messages citing completeness of evidence, fairness, and reciprocity.
Jakpa’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, had objected to the messages being used as evidence, questioning their relevance and authenticity.
He argued that the messages could unfairly prejudice the trial and omitted parts of the conversation, making them incomplete.
Sory also suggested that the Attorney General did not read the messages, rendering them irrelevant. Additionally, Jakpa claimed that the messages had been tampered with.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, countered that the messages were relevant and complete, and would assist the court in making a decision.
She emphasized that the chat previously submitted to the court through Jakpa was incomplete, and the state’s presentation of the messages completes the conversation between the third accused and the Attorney General.
Justice Asare-Botwe ultimately sided with the state prosecutor, emphasizing the court’s discretion to determine the weight of evidence and the need for reciprocity in admitting evidence.
The admitted WhatsApp messages will likely play a significant role in the trial’s outcome, which is being closely followed by observers.
