Ambulance Trial: Godfred Dame told me Ato Forson is his target, not me - Richard Jakpa tells court

Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance trial involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has alleged that Attorney General Godfred Dame informed him that he was not the target of the prosecution.

During court proceedings on Thursday, June 13, 2024, Richard Jakpa told the court that Dame informed him that Dr. Ato Cassiel, the first accused in the case, was his primary target.

He made these claims while being cross-examined by Dr. Forson's legal team, led by Dr. Aziz Bamba.

Jakpa also said that he decided to cooperate and share documents with the Attorney General after Dame assured him that he would be discharged at the submission of no case.

The third accused added that the Attorney General’s assurance made him believe that he would assist him.

He said that the Attorney General even provided him with the addendum to the main contract between the government of Ghana and Big Sea even before the prosecution had closed its case.

Meanwhile, the court, during the proceedings on Thursday, admitted into evidence the leaked phone conversation between Attorney General Godfred Dame and businessman Richard Jakpa in the ongoing trial of Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

The court set Thursday, June 13, 2024, to rule on the admissibility of an audio recording, where the Attorney General is heard allegedly coercing Richard Jakpa to testify in a certain manner.

The presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, delivering her ruling on Thursday, stated that the reasons she gave for admitting the recording during the mistrial application on June 6, 2024, still apply.

Justice Asare-Botwe noted that in the interest of fairness, the pen drive containing the recording has been admitted, as it would have been if presented by the prosecution.

BAI/OGB

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