The audio clip, which captured President Akufo-Addo saying James Gyakye Quayson would be imprisoned if the people of Assin North voted for him, was presented by lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata as evidence.

The evidence was to buttress his claim regarding purportedly biased statements made against Quayson by some stalwarts of the NPP before the by-election.

Moving an application filed by the MP to put on hold the trial in which Quayson has been accused of perjury and forgery until the Court of Appeal determines his appeal challenging the court’s decision to hear the trial daily, Mr Tsikata emphasised that the remarks violate the right of the accused person to a fair trial.

But the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, interjected saying it was unfair for only a portion of the audio to be played, reports Graphic.com.gh.

In his view, playing 15 seconds of the audio was unjust.

He added that the full video should have been played to give the court a proper context of the issues being referred to by Mr Tsikata.

Mr Tsikata in his argument noted that if the application for stay was not granted, it would simply convey the impression of a predetermined outcome of the trial.

“It is an exceptional circumstance when it could lead to an innocent person presumed innocent being unjustly trialled” He added.

But the A-G opposed the application on grounds that when lawyers for Quayson filed for the variation of the court orders on the day-to-day hearing of the case, their application was about the day-to-day hearing of the case before the by-election.

“This application is a bundle of confusion grounded on distortion and must be rejected, I pray for same to be dismissed,” Mr Dame, urged the court to dismiss the application.

The presiding judge, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, fixed July 11, 2023, for the ruling to be delivered on the application for stay.