A professor of law at the University of Ghana, Kwame Gyan, has said that calls for the dismissal of the Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame, in the ongoing ambulance trial are not justified.
He does not believe that a leaked tape which captures a conversation between the (A-G) and Richard Jakpa, the third defendant in the €2.3 million ambulance trial, should be the basis for a dismissal.
During court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024, Mr Jakpa fumed at the Attorney-General for accusing him of defending the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson (the first defendant in the case), in his testimony.
Mr Jakpa, who was being cross-examined by counsel for the Minority Leader, had earlier been warned by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe to be direct in his responses rather than circumventing them and wasting the court’s time.
Reacting to the judge’s caution, Mr Dame accused Mr Jakpa of defending the Minority Leader.
This triggered the third accused, who retorted that the Attorney-General appeared pained because he had engaged him to help the state make a case against Dr Ato Forson.
To buttress the claims, the opposition NDC played the tape, which captures the conversation between Mr Jakpa and Mr Dame at a press conference.
While many have questioned the reason for Mr Dame’s direct engagement with an accused person outside court without the presence of the third defendant, others are convinced that Mr Dame did nothing wrong.
This has since generated conversations among Ghanaians, with some people calling for the Attorney-General’s resignation or dismissal.
Commenting on the issue, Professor Gyan said, “So far as what I have seen or what I know is concerned, I don’t think the calls for his [Godfred Dame’s] dismissal or resignation are justified.
“I have heard people saying if what they have heard is true, he should be dismissed, but I’m saying it shouldn’t be about ‘if’, the conjecture ‘if’ shouldn’t come in,” he said on Asaase radio.
Gyan added, “… and honestly if you look at the conversation that has been recorded and the questioning during the cross-examination, I don’t see where the prejudice is. But you know, the lawyers know how they are conducting their case…”
Dr Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister, has pleaded not guilty to causing a €2.3 million loss to the state in an ambulance deal.
He is on trial with two others — Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health and Richard Jakpa, a businessman, who have also pleaded not guilty.
The accused persons are to answer to 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.
All three are currently on bail.