The trial judge in the case involving Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Justice Efia Serwah Asare-Botwey, has directed the National Security to investigate the source of an audio recording of court proceedings that has been circulated widely.

The court proceedings were paused after Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah Yeboah raised concerns about the unauthorized recording of last week’s cross-examination of the third accused, Richard Jakpa.

The recording was allegedly shared on various WhatsApp platforms, prompting the judge to summon all parties, including the accused, for a meeting in chambers.

Following the meeting, Justice Asare-Botwey warned, “If it’s repeated I’ll clear the court and hold the case in-camera. Only prosecution, lawyers and the accused persons will be allowed in.”

Last week, Mr. Tuah Yeboah stated that the prosecution was not particularly concerned about the contents of the audio recording, which featured an exchange between Attorney-General Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa.

Speaking to journalists after court proceedings on Thursday, June 13, he said, “Not at all, because this audio is nothing that you have heard. In terms of the content, we are not minded about that because it is something that is in the public domain.”

Despite this, the High Court admitted the audio recording into evidence on the same day. This followed a previous ruling on June 6, where Justice Asare-Botwey dismissed an application for mistrial filed by Dr. Ato Forson's lawyers, concluding that the tape did not reveal any instruction from Godfred Dame for Mr. Jakpa to implicate Dr. Forson.

Furthermore, the court also dismissed an application for mistrial filed by Ato Forson. The recording did not demonstrate any direct manipulation by the Attorney-General to influence the testimony of the third accused, thereby undermining the defense’s claims.

Lawyers for Dr. Forson, who is also the Minority Leader, have since filed a supplementary affidavit supporting a motion for an order of mistrial, injunction, and a stay of proceedings in the ongoing ambulance case.

As the investigation into the source of the leaked audio proceeds, the legal community and the public await further developments in this high-profile trial.