Hanan trial: Lawyer rejects claims legal team is delaying trial; insists Dame’s illness genuine

Yaw Buampong Adu-Brempong, a member of Hanan Abdul-Wahab’s defense team, has dismissed allegations that the defense is intentionally delaying the trial by citing lead counsel Godfred Yeboah Dame’s illness. Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight on August 12, Adu-Brempong confirmed that the defense team is genuinely concerned about proceeding with the criminal trial during the legal vacation.

He explained that they had formally requested the Chief Justice’s attention to their concerns regarding the decision to hold substantive criminal proceedings during the legal vacation. Adu-Brempong stressed that the defense position is that vacation courts are primarily meant to handle urgent matters such as motions, making the decision to continue the trial unusual.

He dismissed Deputy Attorney General's claims that the legal vacation and Dame's health were being used as excuses to delay the proceedings, stating that such remarks were unfounded and not backed by facts. Adu-Brempong revealed that Dame had been ill for the past two weeks, unable to project his voice properly during the last court sitting.

The defense team has consistently participated in the proceedings and Abdul-Wahab has cooperated since the beginning of the case, the attorney explained. Therefore, describing the defense's stance as "disingenuous" to suggest they were trying to frustrate the trial, Adu-Brempong said the defense appreciates the seriousness of the proceedings but maintains its objection to the trial during the legal vacation is based on established practice and not an attempt to thwart justice.