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REPUBLIC v. JANTUAH AND OTHERS

February 16, 1968

HIGH COURT

GHANA

CORAM

  • EDUSEI J

Areas of Law

  • Evidence Law
  • Criminal Law and Procedure
  • Administrative Law

AI Generated Summary

In this evidentiary ruling by EDUSEI J., defense counsel Mr. Narayan, representing the fourth accused, attempted to tender a Government White Paper relating to the Ollennu Commission's report (exhibit A). The chief state attorney, Mr. Boison, objected, arguing the commission's report should be treated as incorporated into the Corrupt Practices (Prevention) Act, 1964 (Act 230), and that statutory construction principles therefore governed admissibility. Mr. Narayan contended the White Paper, a public document, was offered to show whether the National Liberation Council, the State's executive authority, agreed with the commission's factual findings. EDUSEI J. rejected both counsel’s submissions as bases, holding that the report cannot be incorporated into Act 230 absent express language, that interpretation of exhibit A is a judicial function, and that the White Paper is irrelevant for deriving facts from the report. He noted White Papers may be admissible if the fact of publication is itself in issue, but otherwise rejected the tender and marked it D.1.

JUDGEMENT