Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame has submitted an affidavit contesting the application by the third defendant in the ambulance trial, Richard Jakpa, who is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed.
Mr Jakpa’s legal team submitted the application on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
The application presented by Thaddeus Sory of Messrs Sory@ Law argued that the charges against Mr Jakpa were unfounded and should be dismissed.
In a dramatic twist, Mr Jakpa testified under oath in his witness statement that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has had several conversations with him during which Mr Dame assured him of his innocence and guaranteed his acquittal.
Mr Jakpa alleges that the Attorney-General confided in him that his inclusion in the prosecution was a disguise to obscure the trial’s true objectives.
He asserted that Mr Dame initiated the action due to pressure from President Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to persecute Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who was deputy finance minister at the time and is now the Minority Leader.
READ ALSO: Ambulance Trial: Richard Jakpa Files Application To Dismiss Charges Against Him
However, the Attorney-General has said that Mr Jakpa did not present valid grounds to justify his application, according to the country’s criminal procedure and practice.
He made this known in a counter application filed at the High Court on May 31, 2024.
“That the instant application is a ruse and a desperate smokescreen set up by the applicant to abort his legitimate prosecution for the role he played in causing colossal financial loss to the State in the purchase of ordinary vans purporting to be ambulances.
“That I respectfully say that all persons are equal before the law and the Attorney-General’s constitutional responsibility to prosecute all crimes within the Republic cannot be injuncted in respect of some particular persons or any group of persons in Ghana.
“That the instant application is an extension of the public theatrics the accused persons have resorted to in a bid to discredit the prosecution of this case and cast doubt about the integrity of the proceedings in this Honourable Court, all of which the Attorney-General has so far observed utmost professionalism about, in spite of the persistent insults and abuse to his integrity by persons associated with the accused persons.”
“…Wherefore, I swear to his affidavit in opposition to the application as frivolous, vexatious and a complete waste of this court’s time,” he further stated.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is facing trial together with Mr Jakpa for allegedly causing a €2.37 million financial loss to the state over an ambulance deal.
