It was only an advice, I’ll prosecute ambulance case – Attorney-General
Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame says he will continue to lead the prosecution on the ambulance case, despite the recusal advice.
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, the trial judge in the ongoing ambulance case, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe advised the Attorney General to recuse himself from the case.
The advice 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.
According to the judge, recusing himself was one way of ensuring that the judicial process was protected and did not create the perception that cases could be held outside the courtroom.
Despite this advice, the Attorney General stated in a press engagement that the judge’s comment was merely a suggestion.
He has decided to proceed with the case, emphasizing his commitment to seeing the trial through.
“The judge herself even after her ruling clarified that she has not given any such order at all but it is only a piece of advice…I am still conducting the trial. The most important point today is that all the applications filed by the applicants have been dismissed in their entirety.
“All applications have failed. This clearly shows that there are a group of people in this country who ride on the manipulation of facts, distortion, and deception of the public. They are always seeking to mislead and deceive the public. Today they have been exposed,” he stated.
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.