On the day the state was expected to open its defence in the protracted legal battle between the Multimedia journalist Latif Iddrisu versus the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General, the state further delayed the trial when it informed the court through a letter signed by Patience Adumuah-Lartey, a Chief state Attorney, that the police witness was not available to testify.
In the letter, the Chief state Attorney on the letterhead of the Attorney General stated that, “Unfortunately, the Witness for the Defence is unable to attend Court to give evidence as previously indicated”.
The letter which was addressed to the registrar of the high court family law division in Accra and dated January 21 2026, cites “official assignment” as reason why the police witness could not show up in court to testify in the ongoing trial.
The Chief state Attorney has asked the court to adjourn the trial for five more days with the hope that the police witness would be available to testify on the unilaterally proposed date.
For a needlessly protracted legal battle, mainly occasioned by actions and inactions of the defense team, Wednesday’s surprise letter from the Attorney General’s office, automatically wipes out four out of the 10 days scheduled for the trial in January 2026, further delaying the case.
Curiously though, the trial date of January 22 2026, and nine other previously scheduled dates, were agreed to by parties in the case, as far back as April 17 2025, offering enough time for State Attorneys to prepare their own witnesses to mount the witness box in January 2026.
It is therefore strange that on the day it was supposed to open its case, the Chief state Attorney will ask for more days to prepare a witness, when it had eight months to do just that.
The case is currently before Her Ladyship Justice Eudora Dadson, presiding at the High Court, Family Law Court 1, the fourth judge to adopt the case, eight years after the life threatening assault on the journalist.
Her Ladyship Justice Eudora Dadson granted the request of the State Attorney and has adjourned the case to January 26 2026.
Read Ghanaian Journalist, Latif Iddrisu, Assaulted by Police
