‘You Can’t unmask Anas in Court ' Documentary Evidence Is Of Essence - Ocquaye tells Judges

Prof Mike Ocquaye

Professor Mike Ocquaye, former Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has downplayed claims by lawyers for judges indicted in the judicial corruption scandal, that it is unlawful for journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to be cross-examined, hidden behind his mask. The lawyers argue Anas has breached the fundamental principle of confronting one’s accuser and that, they will seek an interpretation on the matter at the Supreme Court.
Captain Nkrabea Effah Darteh, counsel for one of the implicated High Court judges in the scandal, said he will only cross-examine Anas without his mask. He argued that cross-examining a witness, in this instance Anas and his team, in a ‘hidden’ identity is likely to compromise the authenticity of the exercise. Lead lawyer for the 22 implicated lower court magistrates, Charles
Ndebugri has also made similar calls. Professor Ocquaye who is also a lawyer insists, there is nothing wrong with Anas wearing the mask, if the committee investigating the matter has documentary evidence to rely on. “This is a very risky job, a risky job done in the public interest so you have to weigh the factors and the total circumstances before you make that simple declaration and especially when the judges who have determined the matter are going to look at other evidence, especially documentary evidence…. What has this got to do with the man’s face? “Evidence is not only by word of mouth, where matters like demeanor come and so on come in. The way you react then someone can say this person is a liar. This is a documentary and if you want to attack the essence of that evidence then go to the documentary,” Professor Ocquaye said.