Ken Agyapong COVID Doctor Stranded in Court

Ken Addo, the Medical Doctor, from the Holy Trinity SPA who was summoned to appear before the Accra High Court hearing the contempt case against Kennedy Agyapong had disappointment and frustration written all over his face when he appeared in court on the agreed date only to be told the judge had on his own, unilaterally adjourned the matter to October 6.

The senior medical officer was billed to appear before the court on October 1, 2020 to clarify an excuse duty he issued for the legislator arrived to meet an empty court.

Although both parties in the case had agreed to return to court on October 1 to hear the doctor, an order issued by the Court sighted by THE NEW PUBLISHER states that the Judge, Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni had changed the date “upon sober reflection on the return date”.

It is unclear what the phrase “upon sober reflection on the return date” means as the court document dated September 28, 2020, signed by Issahaku Musah, the Registrar of the court is silent on same.

It further said: “it is hereby ordered that the said Dr. Ken Addo of Holy Trinity Medical Centre /SPA and Heath Farm do appear before this court on Tuesday the 6^th day of October 2020 at 10:00 a.m to speak to the medical excuse duty form”.

This was after lawyers for the Assin Central MP had told the court Mr. Agyapong is “suffering from complications from the post-Covid-19 condition he suffered last month”, hence his absence from court.

Mr. Agyapong who was dragged to the Court by Justice Wuni risks a possible jail term or fine should he be found guilty for some comments he made against a Judge.

But his lawyers on September 18 urged the court to halt proceedings explaining they had filed an application at the Supreme Court challenging Justice Awuni’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Although Justice Wuni had argued that nothing barred him from proceeding with the case, he adjourned proceedings to September 25 to hear further legal arguments from Mr. Agyapong’s team.

The court on September 25 was informed of a petition Mr. Agyapong had sent to the Chief Justice alleging possible bias in the part of the judge.

The case proceeded nonetheless as his charge was read and not a guilty plea entered for him.

But due to his absence, Justice Wuni adjourned proceedings to Thursday, October 1 with an order that the doctor whose excuse duty was presented to the court appears to explain it.

It may be recalled that Justice Wuni recently personally apologized to Mr. Agyapong over some procedural irregularity in respect of the case.

The Judge uttered the apology in the same open court after lawyers for Kennedy Agyapong drew his attention to the anomaly and said they wanted it to go on the records of the court.

“I apologise profusely for not handing over the charge sheet to Counsel for 3rd Defendant/Respondent/Applicant before it was read in open court. I have copies here, which I hereby hand over with the transcribed copies of the video clip to counsel for 3rd Defendant/Respondent/ Applicant”, the justice, Wuni responded after his attention was drawn to the irregularity.