Ambulance case: Judge reprimands Sammy Gyamfi, others over public commentary

The judge in the ongoing ambulance trial, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, has issued a stern warning to parties in the case over public commentary.

She also cautioned the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, over his utterances at a presser last week.

It will be recalled that Mr Gyamfi, at a press conference, expressed disappointment at the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, over accusations levelled against him by the third accused, Richard Jakpa.

Mr Jakpa alleged that the Attorney-General had repeatedly sought his assistance to implicate Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial.

In the case of the NDC National Communications Officer, he stated that “if anyone can call the accused, then the judge can be called”.

Mr Gyamfi owned up to the statement and clarified that his statement was not definitive on a particular judge.

“If somebody can call an accused person without his lawyer, then that person can call a judge. I was not referring to the judge in the matter,” Mr Gyamfi explained.

The judge said the “statement was of no moment” and urged Mr Gyamfi never to forget that he was a lawyer.

“Be more responsible with your statement. This is the last time I am cautioning you. Don’t ever forget that you are a lawyer for convenience’s sake. No Lawyer does what you are doing with the bench,” she stressed.

The trial judge subsequently used the opportunity to again caution all parties to the suit on their utterances.

“Nobody should go out in the press saying somebody has called the judge. Let’s all be circumspect,” she added.

The judge later met Sammy Gyamfi, Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, lawyers representing Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa as well as former Attorney-General Marrietta Brew Appiah Oppong to address the issues in her chambers.