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AG-Jakpa tape: There’s no basis to allow inquiry into Godfred Dame’s conduct – Judge

• By Ebenezer Albidar Narh
• June 07, 2024
• 0

An Accra High Court has stated that the demand for an inquiry into the Attorney General’s conduct in the ongoing Ambulance case has no basis.

This decision is part of four separate rulings issued by the court today, Thursday, June 6.

It follows numerous applications filed by the first accused person and the third accused, Richard Jakpa.

The applications are an order of inquiry into the conduct of the Attorney-General following the allegations made by Richard Jakpa to the effect that the A-G has been calling him at odd hours; an order of mistrial with the aim of terminating the case; a stay of proceedings until the application is determined; and a motion asking the court to strike out charges against the businessman.

The Minority Leader and former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson filed three of the motions while the last one was filed by the businessman.

Dr Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa are on trial for willfully causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges.

On the issue of an inquiry into the allegations of calls from the Attorney-General at odd hours, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe determined that the request has no legal backing.

The judge also declined the invitation to declare the case a mistrial.

Background

Last month, Richard Jakpa, under cross-examination, revealed that the Attorney General had been contacting him at unusual hours to solicit testimony against the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson.

This revelation has sparked discussions among Ghanaians, with some individuals calling for the resignation of Attorney General Godfred Dame.

Dr. Ato Forson, former Deputy Finance Minister and current Minority Leader, is currently on trial for his alleged involvement in the procurement of defective ambulances for Ghana.

At a press conference, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) played a 16-minute tape allegedly featuring a conversation between the Attorney General and Jakpa.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has refuted the claims made in the audio, asserting that it has been "doctored and manipulated" with malicious intent.


Source: myjoyonline