An Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by a Deputy National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Kwaku Boahen, which sought to strike out criminal charges preferred against him by the state.
Mr Boahen has been charged with conspiracy to cause harm in connection with a leaked tape which captured the voice of the main opposition party’s National Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo allegedly inciting his party’s communicators to launch attacks on the Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission and the National Peace Council.
Following the leakage of the tape, Mr Boahen granted media interviews in which he confirmed that there had, indeed, been a meeting at which Mr Ofosu-Ampofo made the comments contained on the leaked tape.
Mr Boahen’s application to have the criminal charges against him struck out were not successful as the court, presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu held that his application was without merit.
The Chief State Attorney Asiamah Sampong described the application as frivolous and unmeritorious.
The prosecutors were yet to move the case, hence the dismissal of the application, the trial judge said.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo has filed an application seeking to stay the court proceedings in relation to the same case.
His lawyer, Mr Tony Lithur, announced the filing of the application after the court hearing on Monday.
But the court ignored Mr Lithur and proceeded to hear the case. The trial judge explained that he was unaware of any such application.
The prosecution’s first witness was, however, not present in court, a situation that forced the court to adjourn the case to July 23.