Latif Iddrisu vrs IGP & AG: State Attorney fails to show up again even after initial pledge

The trial of journalist Latif Iddrisu against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General (AG) was delayed again. This happened on Thursday, April 3, when the Senior State Attorney did not appear in court.

This absence is not new. The AG's representative has missed court before, often with last-minute notices. She had previously agreed to be present at the last sitting.

The trial judge, His Lordship Abass Abubakari Adams, had set ten days for the trial starting April 2. However, the Senior State Attorney requested two days off from this period due to her unavailability.

Now, three days have been taken out of the original ten days because of her absence. This further delays justice for Latif Iddrisu.

Iddrisu was present in court and ready for proceedings. The judge informed him about the Senior State Attorney's inability to attend when the case was called.

The judge then adjourned the case to April 7 at 10 am. He stated that "the case is adjourned at the instance of the Attorney General representative" who submitted a letter regarding her unavailability.

Press freedom advocates have raised concerns about this prolonged case. They describe it as a stain on Ghana's democracy and press freedom.

Latif Iddrisu arrived hours early for his trial and remained composed. He is determined to pursue accountability within police and security agencies.

In March 2017, he was brutally assaulted while doing his job. Officers from the Ghana Police Service attacked him at their Criminal Investigations Department headquarters.

During this assault, he suffered a fractured skull from being hit with a gun butt.