Rawlings Tapes: Judge meets prosecution and defence

Mr. Justice Kwame Afreh, presiding over the Fast Track Court trying the Quality Grain case, on Wednesday adjourned proceedings and invited the prosecution and defence counsel for the five persons standing trial to his chambers for discussions.

The Judge extended the invitation following several submissions by both sides on an interview ex-President Jerry John Rawlings granted to "Joy FM" and "Peace FM" both private radio stations based in Accra, on the trial.

The court was forced to move into chambers when the prosecution applied for adjournment until the tapes were played to determine how "serious some of the remarks made undermined the judicial administration in the country".


The defence, however, urged the court to overrule the application because to them there was no "justification" for the adjournment.


On Tuesday, the court ordered Joy FM to produce a tape recording and transcript of the interview after the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Ms Gloria Akuffo complained that certain remarks Mr. Rawlings made sought to undermine the trial.


When proceedings resumed on Wednesday, Mr. Justice Afreh said it had come to his knowledge that Peace FM also played the interview on the air. It, therefore, ordered the station to produce the tape today (Thursday) while the trial continued.


The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mr. Osafo Sampong applied for the case to be adjourned to Thursday for the tape and the transcript produced before the trial continued.

Mr. Sampong said it had come to his knowledge that the statements allegedly made by the former President did not only touch on the trial but the "whole judicial administration in the country. It was, therefore, necessary for the court to hear the interview to determine what should be done.


The defence objected to the adjournment but the court advised both sides not to politicise the trial and invited them to chambers.


Those on trial are, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah, Ministers of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and Finance, respectively, Dr Samuel Dapaah, Dr George Yankey and Nana Ato Dadzie, all former senior public officers.


They have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and wilfully causing financial loss to the state and each of them is on a self-recognisance bail.