Source: Onuaonline.com
Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, a Professor of Law at the University of Ghana Law School, has said developments stemming out of the ambulance purchase trial raises some major concerns.
He says the allegations by the third accused, Richard Jakpa, against the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, goes beyond the normal politicking the political parties usually attach to issues of national interest, per his legal perspective.
He has been telling Alfred Ocansey on the KeyPoints Saturday, June 01, 2024, that Richard Jakpa’s claim that the A-G contacted him during odd hours to falsify a testimony against Dr. Ato Forson, raises concerns.
“It raises concerns, certainly, and it doesn’t seem to be something that is typically what an Attorney-General should do. So it puts the name of the office in a very bad shape and the image. The message it sends out is that the Office is being corrupted and therefore it’s a great source of worry and concern for the delivery of criminal justice in the country, not only criminal justice but justice delivery generally, because the Attorney-General’s office is a very high office that is supposed to ensure the delivery of justice in the country,” he indicated on TV3.
According to the Professor of Law, the Office of the A-G “connects with the General Legal Counsel. It connects with the Judicial Service. It connects with Legal Aid Commission. It connects with the delivery of law reforms and so on. So he occupies a very high position and the delivery of justice is supposed to be something that is recognized as a right in the Constitution for citizens of Ghana and even residents of Ghana,” the reason he says the development affects the entire justice delivery system in the country.
The Professor’s comments is in relation to the allegations made by Richard Jakpa, a third defendant in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial, against the Attorney-General.
The NDC released what it claims to be an audio recording of a conversation between the Attorney -General, Godfred Yeboah Dame and the third accused person in the controversial ambulance purchase trial, Richard Jakpa.
This follows claims by the third accused, Richard Jakpa, that the Attorney-General had previously approached him to help build a case against the former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Mr Jakpa said in open court that the Attorney-General had on several occasions engaged him at odd hours to incriminate the first accused and Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson.
“If he pushes me, I will open the Pandora’s box. I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 [Ato Forson] when I’m here to defend myself,” Mr Jakpa added during court proceedings on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
However, a statement signed by Deputy Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, dismissed the claims.
The office said Mr Jakpa is rather the one who “by various letters” on multiple occasions “proposed to the Republic through the Attorney-General to engage in plea bargaining or plea negotiations. This plea bargaining proposal has, to date, not been accepted by the Attorney-General.”
But at a press conference Tuesday, May 28, the NDC played a tape purportedly containing the voices of the two individuals, Mr. Dame and Mr. Jakpa.
The party said the 16-minute long audio, which the NPP at a press conference same day stated was doctored, is the first of many such pieces of evidence they would be releasing subsequently.
They also publicised supposed screenshots of WhatsApp chats between the third accused and the A-G.
Source: www.onuaonline.com
