Recuse yourself from ambulance case – Judge advises Attorney General
The trial judge in the ongoing ambulance case has advised the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to recuse himself from the case.
This follows recent developments involving a leaked conversation between Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the case and Attorney-General (A-G) Godfred Dame.
Mr Jakpa alleged that the A-G had repeatedly sought his assistance to implicate Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, also an accused person in the ongoing trial.
Following the developments, the judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe urged the Attorney General to distance himself from the direct prosecution of the case.
She believes this was one way of ensuring that the judicial process was protected and to gain public confidence and not give a perception that cases can be held outside the courtroom.
Earlier, the court dismissed Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s application for a mistrial.
According to the judge, the Minority leader did not show provisions that warrant a mistrial in the case nor probe the A-G’s action.
On the issue of an inquiry into the allegations of calls from the Attorney-General to Mr Jakpa at odd hours, Justice Asare-Botwe said that the request has no legal backing.
Despite dismissing two applications, the court directed Dr Ato Forson to seek redress from the General Legal Council if he wished to pursue the matter further.
Dr Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister and Richard Jakpa, a businessman have both pleaded not guilty to causing the state a €2.3 million loss.
They are facing five counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to wilfully causing financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act, and intentionally misapplying public property.